Gregorian Chant Hymns

     Faithful Cross the Saints rely on,        
     Noble tree beyond compare!          
     Never was there such a scion,      
     Never leaf or flower so rare.                *      Sweet the timber, sweet the iron,  
     Sweet the burden that they bear!  

1.  Sing, my tongue, in exultation            
     Of our banner and device!            
     Make a solemn proclamation                  
     Of a triumph and its price:              
     How the Saviour of creation 
     Conquered by his sacrifice!  (Refrain)          

2.  For, when Adam first offended,  
     Eating that forbidden fruit,                
     Not all hopes of glory ended            
     With the serpent at the root:          
     Broken nature would be mended        
     By a second tree and shoot.  (Refrain)

 3.  Thus the tempter was outwitted    
      By a wisdom deeper still:          
      Remedy and ailment fitted,          
      Means to cure and means to kill;    
      That the world might be acquitted,  
      Christ would do his Father’s will. 
      (Refrain)

4.   So the Father, out of pity            
      For our self-inflicted doom,            
      Sent him from the heavenly city    
      When the holy time had come:        
      He, the Son and the Almighty,      
      Took our flesh in Mary’s womb.     
      (Refrain)    

5.  Hear a tiny baby crying,              
     Founder of the seas and strands;    
     See his virgin Mother tying            
     Cloth around his feet and hands;      
     Find him in a manger lying          
     Tightly wrapped in swaddling-bands!
     (Refrain)  

6.  So he came, the long-expected,        
     Not in glory, not to reign;                    
     Only born to be rejected,            
     Choosing hunger, toil and pain,            
     Till the scaffold was erected                
     And the Paschal Lamb was slain.
     (Refrain)  

7.  No disgrace was too abhorrent:  
     Nailed and mocked and parched he died;  
     Blood and water, double warrant,      
     Issue from his wounded side,        
     Washing in a mighty torrent              
     Earth and stars and oceantide.  (Refrain)

8.  Lofty timber, smooth your roughness, 
     Flex your boughs for blossoming;        
     Let your fibers lose their toughness, 
     Gently let your tendrils cling;                
     Lay aside your native gruffness,        
     Clasp the body of your King!  (Refrain)

9.  Noblest tree of all created,          
     Richly jeweled and embossed:              
     Post by Lamb’s blood consecrated;    
     Spar that saves the tempest-tossed;  
     Scaffold-beam which, elevated,      
     Carries what the world has cost!
     (Refrain)

10.  Wisdom, power, and adoration To the blessed Trinity  
       For redemption and salvation Through the Paschal Mystery, 
       Now, in every generation, And for all eternity. Amen.

Note:  Music from the Parish Book of Chant (CMAA, 2012, page 267) and used with permission from The Church Music Association of America. Book can be purchased at amazon.com  and is also available by download from http://media.musicasacra.com/pdf/pbc-web.pdf