The Lord Is Risen

THE LORD IS RISEN!

Hail to thee, Festival Day! Blest day that art hallowed for ever;

Day wherein God destroyed hell, rising again from the dead.

He who was nailed to the Cross is God and the Ruler of all things;

All things created on earth worship the Maker of all.

God of all pity and power, let thy word be assured to the doubting;

Light on the third day returns: rise, Son of God, from the tomb.

Ill doth it seem that thy limbs should linger in lowly dishonour,

Ransom and price of the world, veiled from the vision of men.

Ill doth it seem that thou, by whose hand all things are encompassed,

Captive and bound should remain, deep in the gloom of the rock.

Rise now, O Lord, from the grave and cast off the shroud that enwrapped thee;

Thou are sufficient for us; nothing exists without thee.

Mourning they laid thee to rest, who art Author of life and creation;

Treading the pathway of death, life thou bestowest on man.

Show us thy face once more, that all times may exult in thy brightness;

Give us the light of day, darkened on earth at thy death.

Out of the prison of death thou art rescuing numberless captives;

Freely they tread in the way wither their Maker has gone.

Jesus has harrowed hell; he has led captivity captive;

Darkness and chaos and death flee from the face of the light.

Easter Processional, Western Rite, Venantuis Fortunatus

(Thanks to Dr. Ken Boa for this Easter meditation.)