Easter Hymn Excerpts

Light’s glittering morn bedecks the sky,

heaven thunders forth its victor cry,
the glad earth shouts its triumph high,
and groaning hell makes wild reply:

While he, the King of glorious might,
treads down death’s strength in death’s despite,
and trampling hell by victor’s right,
brings forth his sleeping Saints to light.

~From “Aurora lucis rutilat” (Text: St. Ambrose; Translation: John Mason Neale)

That Easter day with joy was bright,
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When, to their longing eyes restored,
The glad apostles saw their Lord.

His risen flesh with radiance glowed;
His wounded hands and feet he showed
Those scars their solemn witness gave
That Christ was risen from the grave.

~From “That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright” (Claro paschali gaudio, Latin, 5th century; Translation: John Mason Neale)

This joyful Eastertide
Away with sin and sorrow!
My love, the Crucified,
Has sprung to life this morrow:

Refrain:
Had Christ, who once was slain,
Not burst his three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain:
But now has Christ arisen,
Arisen, arisen, arisen;
But now has Christ arisen!

~From “This Joyful Eastertide” (Text: George R. Woodward)

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The strife is o’er, the battle done;
Now is the victor’s triumph won:
O let the song of praise be sung.
Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O risen Lord, all praise to thee,
Who from our sins has set us free,
That we may live eternally:
Alleluia!

~From “The Strife Is O’er, The Battle Done” (Text: Cologne, 1695; Translation: Francis Pott; Music: W. H. Monk)

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

~From “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today” (Text: Charles Wesley; Music: Lyra Davidica)

’Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From His light, to Whom we give laud and praise undying.

“Alleluia!” now we cry to our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal;
“Alleluia!” with the Son, God the Father praising,
“Alleluia!” yet again to the Spirit raising.

~From “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise The Strain” (Text: John of Damascus; Translation: John Mason Neale; Music: Arthur Sullivan)

Lo! Jesus meets us,
Risen from the tomb;
Lovingly He greets us,
Scatters fear and gloom;
Let the church with gladness,
Hymns of triumph sing;
For her Lord now liveth,
Death hath lost its sting.

Refrain:
Thine is the glory,
Risen conquering Son,
Endless is the victory,
Thou o’er death hast won.

~From: “Thine Is The Glory” (Text: Edmond Budry; Translation: Richard Hoyle; Music: George F. Handel)

Jesus Christ is ris'n today, alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, alleluia!
who did once, upon the cross, alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss, alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, alleluia!
unto Christ, our heav'nly King, alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save, alleluia!

But the pains which He endured, alleluia!
our salvation have procured; alleluia!
now above the sky He's King, alleluia!
where the angels ever sing: alleluia!

~From “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” (Text: Anonymous Latin hymn)

(Found here)