O day full of grace, which we behold, To us from the sea ascending; You over the earth your reign unfold, Good cheer to all mortals lending, That children of light in every clime May prove that the night is ending! How blest was that gracious midnight hour, When Christ in the flesh was given; Then flushed from the east the dawn with pow’r,
That spread o’er the darkened heaven; Then rose o’er the world that sun divine Which gloom from our hearts has driven. Were all of the trees endowed with speech, Were all of the leaflets singing, They never with praise His worth could reach, Though earth with their praise were ringing. Who fully could praise the Light of Life, Who light to our souls is bringing? As birds in the morning sing God’s praise, His fatherly love we cherish, For giving to us this day of grace, For life that shall never perish. His Church He has kept these thousand years, And hungering souls did nourish. With joy we approach our Father’s land, Where day is forever dwelling,