Praise To The Holiest In The Height

“The Dream of Gerontius,” 1865. The editor of The Month: An Illustrated Magazine of Literature, Science and Art asked Newman if he could contribute something, and Newman submitted this poem. These lyrics appeared in hymnals shortly thereafter.

Praise to the Holiest in the height,

And in the depth be praise;

In all His words most wonderful,

Most sure in all His ways.

O loving wisdom of our God!

When all was sin and shame,

A second Adam to the fight

And to the rescue came.

O wisest love! that flesh and blood,

Which did in Adam fail,

Should strive afresh against the foe,

Should strive and should prevail.

And that a higher gift than grace

Should flesh and blood refine,

God’s Presence and His very Self,

And Essence all divine.

O generous love! that He, who smote,

In Man for man the foe,

The double agony in Man

For man should undergo.

And in the garden secretly,

And on the Cross on high,

Should teach His brethren, and inspire

To suffer and to die.

Praise to the Holiest in the height,

And in the depth be praise;

In all His words most wonderful,

Most sure in all His ways.

~ Words: John Henry Newman & Music: John Dykes