p. 153
First Line:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
Artist & Tune
Composed by:
Reference
Genre:
About the Song
Pierpont was 29 when he wrote these lyrics in appreciation of the rich beauties of the countryside. He intended the song as a Eucharistic hymn and it was originally published as part of a collection of Eucharistic hymns & poems called Lyra Eucharistica, Hymns & Verses on The Holy Communion, Ancient and Modern, with other Poems.
The lyrics were signficantly altered in most 20th century hymnals to make it more appropriate as a hymn for general use (unconnected to Communion.)
Conrad Kocher wrote the tune "Dix" in 1838, which is the most common setting used for Pierpont's lyrics.
Alt Lyrics
Pierpont's original 1864 lyrics:
- For the beauty of the earth,
- For the beauty of the skies,
- For the Love which from our birth
- Over and around us lies:
- Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
- This our Sacrifice of Praise.
- For the beauty of each hour
- Of the day and of the night,
- Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
- Sun and moon and stars of light:
- For the joy of ear and eye,
- For the heart and brain's delight,
- For the mystic harmony
- Linking sense to sound and sight:
- For the joy of human love,
- Brother, sister, parent, child,
- Friends on earth, and friends above;
- For all gentle thoughts and mild:
- For each perfect Gift of Thine
- To our race so freely given,
- Graces human and Divine,
- Flowers of earth, and buds of Heaven:
- For Thy Bride that evermore
- Lifteth holy hands above,
- Offering up on every shore
- This Pure Sacrifice of Love:
- For Thy Martyrs' crown of light,
For Thy Prophets' eagle eye
For Thy bold Confessors' might
For the lips of Infancy:
- For Thy Virgins' robes of snow,
- For Thy Maiden Mother mild,
- For Thyself, with hearts aglow,
- Jesu, Victim undefiled,
- (final refrain:) Offer we at Thine own Shrine
- Thyself, sweet Sacrament Divine.