Scripture Verse

God said, Let there be light, and there was light. Genesis 1:3

Introduction

portrait
Gregory I (540–604)

Words: Pos­si­bly by Gre­go­ry I (540–604) (Lu­cis Cre­at­or op­ti­me). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by the com­pil­ers of Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, based on a ver­sion by John Chand­ler (1806–1876).

Music: Vi­en­na Jus­tin H. Knecht, 1797 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Justin H. Knecht (1752–1817)

Lyrics

Blest Cre­at­or of the light,
Making day with ra­di­ance bright,
Thou didst o’er the form­ing earth
Give the gold­en light its birth.

Shade of eve with morn­ing ray
Took from Thee the name of day;
Darkness now is draw­ing nigh;
Listen to our hum­ble cry.

May we ne’er by guilt de­pressed
Lose the way to end­less rest;
Nor with idle thoughts and vain
Bind our souls to earth again.

Rather may we hea­ven­ward rise
Where eter­nal trea­sure lies;
Purified by grace with­in,
Hating every deed of sin.

Holy Fa­ther, hear our cry,
Through Thy Son our Lord most high,
Whom our thank­ful hearts adore
With the Spir­it ev­ermore.