Grace and peace, everybody! I have a new hymn (or simple motet) for the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. It's in six verses with an optional descant.
I've always wanted to write something for this lovely feast and the great saint for whom I was named.
1. Forty days from Christmas morning And the joy at Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, our Sun, is dawning Radiant in Jerusalem: O behold Light foretold By the prophets from of old.
2. Our dear Lady, bearing Jesus, And Saint Joseph walk in awe For the love of Torah's sweetness To the temple of that Law, Off'ring there Fervent prayer And pale turtledoves in pair.
3. O with what devotion simple These two pilgrims heed our God As within that mighty temple Priests and people sing Him laud: Pure and strong Is the song Raised by this, His faithful throng.
4. Taking Jesus from His Mother, Simeon sees the keenest joy, For this Child, our Lord and Brother Is His people's royal Boy; Christ His Name, Truth His claim; To this wicked world He came.
5. Prophesy, O righteous Anna! Praise our God, His mercies tell! Let thy voice proclaim Hosanna From the heart of Israel! Help us bring To our King Such a fitting offering!
6. Come within Thy Church, Christ Jesus, Light our hearts as Thine entire, For the love of Heaven's sweetness We would burn with holy fire: Praise be Thine, King divine, Son in glory, ever shine!
[Edited the harmonization a bit and tweaked v. 5.]
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