itsawonderfilledlife

Evermore … always, endless, perpetually, everlasting … forever.

A melodic word like evermore denotes permanence, security. We humans need such words, experiences, realities in our lives.

I recently discovered the one of the two oldest Christmas Carols is one that I remember hearing at band concerts at this time of year when our daughter played flute.

Maybe not a carol sung at our more ‘relevant’ worship services, it is one that we are more likely to hear in Catholic or the traditional mainline churches.

The tune (Divinum Mysterium) is a plainsong or chant (I imagine the hauntingly beautiful sound that would be in an ancient stone cathedral). But the words (lyrics) were written by a Roman Christian poet Aurelius Prudentius Clemens … who was born on or about 348AD. In 1852, Of the Father’s Love Begotten was first written in a song book (hymnal).

This means this poem was written over 1700 years ago!

Though an exaggeration, this song would seem to exist evermore and evermore.

Let no tongue on earth be silent,
ev’ry voice in concert ring
evermore and evermore.

Of the Father’s love begotten
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see
evermore and evermore.

Oh, that birth forever blessed
when the virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bore the Savior of our race,
and the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face
evermore and evermore.

This is he whom seers and sages
sang of old with one accord,
whom the voices of the prophets
promised in their faithful word.
Now he shines, the long-expected;
let creation praise its Lord
evermore and evermore.

Let the heights of heav’n adore him,
angel hosts his praises sing,
pow’rs, dominions bow before him
and extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
ev’ry voice in concert ring
evermore and evermore.

Christ, to thee, with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
and unending praises be,
honor, glory, and dominion
and eternal victory
evermore and evermore.