The Feast of Christ the King is a relatively recent addition to the liturgical calendar, introduced by Pope Pius XI in 1925. We’re celebrating the occasion with hymns including Rejoice! The Lord is king and Crown him with many crowns.
Stained glass window at the Melkite Catholic Annunciation Cathedral in Roslindale, Boston MA, depicting Christ the King with the regalia of a Byzantine emperor. Photo: CC 3.0 / John Stephen Dwyer
SONG: PRAISE, MY SOUL, THE KING OF HEAVEN
Artist: Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Michael Leighton Jones (dir), Jonathan Bradley (organ)
Words/Music: Henry Francis Lyte/John Goss
Recording: ABC 476509
Praise, my soul, the king of heaven!
to his feet thy tribute bring,
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who like we his praise should sing:
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting king.
Praise Him for His grace and favour
To his people in distress.
Praise Him still the same for ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness.
Angels, help us to adore Him
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.
SONG: REJOICE! THE LORD IS KING
Artist: Choral Arts Society of Washington Chamber Singers
Words/Music: Charles Wesley/John Darwall
Recording: Sono Luminus 2015
Rejoice, the lord is king!
Your lord and king adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Jesus, the Saviour, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When he had purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o’er earth and heav’n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv’n;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
He sits at God’s right hand
Till all his foes submit,
And bow to his command,
And fall beneath his feet:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
SONG: LORD, ENTHRONED IN HEAVENLY SPLENDOUR
Artist: Elora Festival Singers
Words/Music : George Bourne/Healy Willan
Recording: Naxos 8.557734
Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor,
first-begotten from the dead.
Thou alone, our strong defender,
liftest up thy people's head.
Alleluia!
Jesus, true and living bread!
Here our humblest homage pay we,
here in loving reverence bow;
here for faith's discernment pray we,
lest we fail to know thee now.
Alleluia!
Thou art here, we ask not how.
Though the lowliest form doth veil thee
as of old in Bethlehem,
here as there thine angels hail thee,
branch and flower of Jesse's stem.
Alleluia!
We in worship join with them.
Paschal Lamb, thine offering, finished
once for all when thou was slain,
in its fullness undiminished
shall for evermore remain.
Alleluia!
Cleansing souls from every stain.
Life-imparting heavenly manna,
stricken rock with streaming side,
heaven and earth with loud hosanna
worship thee, the lamb who died.
Alleluia!
Risen, ascended, glorified!
SONG: JESUS, MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL
Artist: Choir of the King’s School, Canterbury,
Words/Music: Henry Collins/Trad
Recording: Priory PRCD 716
Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All,
Hear me, blest Savior, when I call;
Hear me, and from Thy dwelling-place
Pour down the riches of Thy grace:
Refrain:
Jesus, my Lord, I Thee adore;
O make me love Thee more and more.
Jesus, what didst Thou find in me
That thou hast dealt so lovingly?
How great the joy that Thou hast brought,
So far exceeding hope or thought!
Refrain:
Jesus, of Thee shall be my song;
To Thee my heart and soul belong:
All that I have or am is Thine;
And Thou, blest Savior, Thou art mine.
Refrain:
SONG: WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Artist: Cambridge Singers, John Scott (organ), John Rutter (dir)
Words/Music: Isaac Watts/Edward Miller
Recording: Collegium 880126
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
His dying crimson, like a robe,
spreads o'er his body on the tree;
then am I dead to all the globe,
and all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
SONG: PSALM 23
Artist: Convivium Singers, Eamonn Dougan (dir)
Words/Music: Psalm 23/Margaret Rizza
Recording: Convivium Records CR022
[Lyrics not available]
SONG: O JESUS I HAVE PROMISED
Artist: Choir of St Clement’s Church, Philadelphia, Peter Conte (dir), Matthew Glandorf (organ)
Words/Music: John Bode/William Ferguson
Recording: Dorian 790259
O Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end;
be thou forever near me, my Master and my friend;
I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway if thou wilt be my guide.
O let me hear thee speaking in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen, thou guardian of my soul.
O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory there shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end
Oh, give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.
SONG: CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS
Artist: Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Catherine Palmer (dir), Ronald Jordan (organ)
Words/Music: Matthew Bridges, Godfrey Thring/George Elvey
Recording: Marquis 1811175
Crown him with many crowns,
the lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy chosen king
through all eternity.
Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
who rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;
His glories now we sing
who died, and rose on high;
who died eternal life to bring;
and lives that death may die.
Crown him the Lord of heav'n,
Enthroned in worlds above;
Crown him the King to whom is giv'n
The wondrous name of Love.
All hail, redeemer, hail!
For thou has died for me;
Thy praise will never ever fail
throughout eternity.
