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John Mason Neale

Today, the Episcopal Church celebrates John Mason Neale, prolific hymnographer and translator of ancient hymns, and the founder of the Society of St. Margaret.

One of his hymns is #672 in The Hymnal 1982:

1 O very God of very God,
and very Light of Light,
whose feet this earth’s dark valley trod
that so it might be bright:

2 Our hopes are weak, our fears are strong, thick darkness blinds our eyes; cold is the night; thy people long that thou, their Sun, wouldst rise.

3 And even now, though dull and gray, the east is brightening fast, and kindling to the perfect day that never shall be past.

4 O guide us till our path is done, and we have reached the shore where thou, our everlasting Sun, art shining evermore!

5 We wait in faith, and turn our face to where the daylight springs, till thou shalt come our gloom to chase, with healing in thy wings.

[Words in the public domain. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.]


[Note to Dana - wings!]





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