~When Morning Gilds The Skies

   This worship hymn is by Edward Caswall, who was born in Yately, England, July 15, 1814. 

   He was the son of a vicar of the Church of England, graduated at Oxford and himself became a clergyman of the English Church.  In 1847, however, he left that church and became a Catholic priest in the Birmingham church founded by Cardinal Newman, where he remained until his death, January 2, 1878.

   He was very earnest in his duties as a minister, and took a loving interest in the poor, the sick and little children.

   Our hymn is a translation from a German hymn, but so free a translation that it is practically a new hymn.  The hymn is said to be a great favorite in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, where it is usually printed for distribution on a separate sheet.

—Amos R. Wells

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When Morning Gilds the Skies[1]

1           When Morning gilds the skies,

My heart, awaking, cries,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

When evening shadows fall,

This rings my curfew call,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

2           When mirth for music longs,

This is my song of songs:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

God’s holy house of prayer

Hath none that can compare

With: Jesus Christ be praised!

3           No lovelier antiphon

In all high heaven is known

Than, Jesus Christ be praised!

There to the eternal Word

The eternal psalm is heard:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

4           Ye nations of mankind,

In this your concord find:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Let all the earth around

Ring joyous with the sound:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

5           Sing, suns and stars of space,

Sing, ye that see his face,

Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!

God’s whole creation o’er,

For aye and evermore

Shall Jesus Christ be praised!