Hark, a Herald Voice Is Calling
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Hark, a herald voice is calling;
"Christ is nigh," it seems to say;
"Cast away the dreams of darkness,
O ye children of the day."
2. Startled at the solemn warning,
Let the earthbound soul arise;
Christ her Sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines up on the morning skies.
3. Lo, the Lamb so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heav'n;
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiv'n.
4. So when next He comes with glory,
Shrounding all the earth in fear,
May He then as our defender,
On the clouds of heav'n appear.
This Advent hymn is very beautiful, and has a catchy melody. It is often heard today in conservative and more traditional Catholic churches. It was translated from En clara vox redarguit, which is a 5th or 6th century hymn whose author is unknown. It was revised in the 1632 Roman Breviary, and the English translation found above was done by Fr. E. Caswall, 1695.
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