An Advent Hymn That Sings of the Great Wedding Feast of the Lamb

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 12-05-19 | Msgr. Charles Pope

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Posted on December 5, 2019December 5, 2019 by Msgr. Charles Pope

An Advent Hymn That Sings of the Great Wedding Feast of the Lamb

ERNEST KARLOVICH LIPGART” VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Another great Advent hymn to discuss is “Wake, O Wake with Tidings Thrilling.” Its original German title is “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme,” which is more literally translated “Awake, a voice calls to us.” The hymn was written in 1599 by Philipp Nicolai, and concerns the Parable of the Ten Virgins. It is beautifully creative, painting a picture of joyful anticipation, as the groom finally arrives, and the joyful cry goes out to the bridesmaids to raise their torches high. The bride, of course, is Mother Church, the New Jerusalem, who joyfully looks for Christ, her groom, as He descends from Heaven in the glory of His Second Coming. Thus, the hymn also points to the following passage from the Book of Revelation:

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” … I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear” (Rev 21:2-3; 19:7-8).

The hymn thus beautifully portrays the longing of the Church, the Bride. She looks and longs until she hears these words from Him: Surge amica mea, speciosa mea et veni! (Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!) (Song of Songs 2:10). Yes, her longing cannot be quenched until He comes again in all His radiant beauty and majesty. Until then, she looks, longs, and waits, until the number of her elect children is complete and she, in her fullness, will go to be with her spouse forever in the beatific glory.

Enjoy one of the great Advent hymns, “Wake, O Wake with Tidings Thrilling!” This particular translation (from the German) is wonderful; it is both biblical and artistic:

Wake, O wake with tidings thrilling;
The Watchmen all the air are filling;
Arise, Jerusalem, Arise!
Midnight strikes, no more delaying;
“The hour has come,” we hear them saying;
Where are ye all ye virgins wise?

The bridegroom comes in sight
Raise high, your torches bright!
Alleluia!
The wedding song swells loud and strong;
Go forth and join the festal throng.

Zion hears the watchman shouting;
Her heart leaps up with joy undoubting;
She stands and waits with eager eyes!
She her love from heaven descending;
Adorned with truth and grace unending;
Her light burns clear her star doth rise!

Now come our precious crown;
Lord Jesus, God’s own Son;
Hosanna!
Let us prepare to follow there
Where in thy supper we may share.

Yes, there is a great wedding feast in every liturgy, and its culmination looks to the glorious Second Coming of Jesus. This Christmas, look to your wedding garment, which the Lord gave you at baptism to bring unstained to the great judgment seat of Christ. The Bridegroom comes! Let us go out to meet Christ the Lord (cf Matt 25:6).

Here is a performance of this great wedding song of Advent by the choir of Trinity College in Cambridge.

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Video

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Monsignor Pope Ping!

[Mrs. Don-o]

I need help from Catholic (or other Christian) musical FReepers. I'm in charge of the hymns for the daily morning Masses in our parish Day Chapel, and I would like to get the guidance of other people who do parish music.

Does anybody out there have lists of hymns (English, traditional) which they themselves use which pretty much fit with the liturgical calendar?

THANKS IN ADVANCE...!

[cloudmountain]

Is it possible to go to the parish musical directors in your area?
THEY might have the information you're looking for.

[Mrs. Don-o]

My own parish musical director just said I should do what I think best. She's older and seriously overworked, and neither she nor I would want to task her with responsibility for 6-weekdays-a-week lists of songs.

I'm in Upper East Tennessee, where we only have 4 parishes in the surrounding 6 counties. Two do not have daily weekday masses; the other two have flouncy bouncy guitar stuff from the "Spirit and Song" hymnal plus the OCP MIssalette, which I don't like at all.

I did write to the music director of the Cathedral (Dio of Knoxville) before the beginning of Advent, but I haven't heard back.

I think it's pleasant as well as adequate to pick selections out of the J.S.Paluch-published missalette (one of the more traditional ones), plus what I can grab out of "Worship," but I would like to be more liturgically exact. I love it when the songs match the readings, so I squint hard at the lyrics and do as well as I can!

[GeorgiaGuy]

Have you been to the Cantica Nova website? They have hymn and music recommendations for the liturgical year.

Here is the link for Advent II this year:

http://www.canticanova.com/planning/ef/advent2_m.htm

[cloudmountain]

My own parish musical director just said I should do what I think best. She's older and seriously overworked, and neither she nor I would want to task her with responsibility for 6-weekdays-a-week lists of songs. I'm in Upper East Tennessee, where we only have 4 parishes in the surrounding 6 counties. Two do not have daily weekday masses; the other two have flouncy bouncy guitar stuff from the "Spirit and Song" hymnal plus the OCP MIssalette, which I don't like at all.
I did write to the music director of the Cathedral (Dio of Knoxville) before the beginning of Advent, but I haven't heard back.
I think it's pleasant as well as adequate to pick selections out of the J.S.Paluch-published missalette (one of the more traditional ones), plus what I can grab out of "Worship," but I would like to be more liturgically exact. I love it when the songs match the readings, so I squint hard at the lyrics and do as well as I can!

Hmmmm, maybe you can contact some of the churches in larger cities.
You OBVIOUSLY know how to write good letters so give it a try! I bet you come up with a BUNCH of good stuff.

Good luck.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you so much for this! I have book marked it for frequent future use.

It’s not quite day-to-day as I would have (ideally and lazily) hoped, but it definitely weeds out the dross and focuses on tee goldest of the gold. Thank you so much!~!~

[EDINVA]

Since I have to lip synch everything, including Amen, I don’t have a lot of musical knowledge BUT our hymnals have a directory of words/themes used in the hymns in the back... I don’t know if that’s common or not .. if the hymnals at your church don’t have that, I can get the name of the hymnal and its publisher. You could then take some words of the readings and look them up in this directory section.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thanks! I got a Campion hymnal loaned to me -— Scripture reference section, and almost all of it before 1966. Hmmm.... :o) YES!