Hail thee, festival day!
 
Hail thee, festival day!
Blest day that art hallowed for ever;
Day whereon Christ arose,
Breaking the kingdom of death.
 
Lo, the fair beauty of earth,
From the death of the winter arising!
Ev'ry good gift of the year
Now with its Master returns:
 
Hail thee, festival day!
Blest day that art hallowed for ever;
Day whereon Christ arose,
Breaking the kingdom of death.
 
He who was nailed to the cross
Is Lord and the ruler of all men;
All things created on earth
Sing to the glory of God:
 
Hail thee, festival day!
Blest day that art hallowed for ever;
Day whereon Christ arose,
Breaking the kingdom of death.
 
God the All-Father, the Lord,
Who rulest the earth and the heavens,
Guard us from harm without,
Cleanse us from evil within:
 
Hail thee, festival day!
Blest day that art hallowed for ever;
Day whereon Christ arose,
Breaking the kingdom of death.
 
Jesus the health of the world,
Enlighten our minds, thou Redeemer,
Son of the Father supreme,
Only begotten of God:
 
Hail thee, festival day!
Blest day that art hallowed for ever;
Day whereon Christ arose,
Breaking the kingdom of death.
 
Melody: Salve Festa Dies; Music: R. Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958; Text: Venantius Honorius Fortunatus, 530-609; Translator: Maurice F. Bell, 1862-1947; © Oxford University Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved.