Scripture Verse

As it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. Matthew 28:1–4

Introduction

portrait
Ambrose of Milan (340–397)

Words: At­trib­ut­ed to Am­brose of Mi­lan (340–397) (Au­ro­ra lu­cis ru­ti­lat). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John Will­iams in An­cient Hymns of the Ho­ly Church (Hart­ford, Con­nec­ti­cut: 1845).

Music: Wa­ter­bank Ju­lia R. Hi­gin­bo­tham (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Hi­gin­bo­tham (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
John Williams (1817–1899)

Lyrics

Heaven with ro­sy morn is glow­ing,
Songs of tri­umph fill the air,
Strains of praise from earth are flow­ing,
Hell is writh­ing in des­pair.
Earth’s great king, in glo­ry spring­ing,
From the deep se­pulch­ral night,
While loud an­thems round are ring­ing,
Leads His saints to life and light.

Useless watch the guards are keep­ing
O’er that tomb so still and lone;
He who there in death was sleep­ing,
Bursts the seal, and rends the stone.
Weep no more; no more be giv­en
Gushing tears and mourn­ful sighs,
For the grave’s dark gates are riven,
Christ is ris­en!
the an­gel cries.

Be our Pas­chal joy un­end­ing!
And, O Lord, deign Thou to save
Contrite souls, that low­ly bend­ing,
Pray for life be­yond the grave.
Praise the Fa­ther, earth and Hea­ven,
Praise the Son, who rose this day,
To the Spir­it praise be given—
Three in One, and One in three.