A Message Came to a Maiden Young

Representative Text

1 A message came to a maiden young;
The angel stood beside her
In shining robes, and with golden tongue
He told what should betide her:
The maid was lost in wonder;
Her world was rent asunder;
Ah! how could she
Christ's mother be
By God's most high decree!

2 No greater news could a messenger bring;
For 'twas from the young mother
He came, who walked on the earth as a king,
And yet to all a brother:
His truth has spread like leaven;
'Twill marry earth to heaven,
Till all agree
In charity
To dwell from sea to sea.

3 He came, God's Word to the world here below;
And round him there did gather
A band who found that this teacher to know
Was e'en to know the Father:
He healed the sick who sought him,
Forgave the foes who fought him;
Beside the sea
Of Galilee
He set the nations free.

4 And sometimes trumpets from Sion ring out,
And tramping comes, and drumming;
"Thy kingdom come," so we cry; and they shout,
"It comes!" and still 'tis coming.
Far, far ahead, to win us,
Yet with us, nay within us;
Till all shall see
That King is he,
The Love from Galilee!

Source: RitualSong: a hymnal and service book for Roman Catholics #478

Author (st. 2-4): Percy Dearmer

Dearmer, Percy, M.A., son of Thomas Dearmer, was born in London, Feb. 27, 1867, and educated at Westminster School and at Christ Church, Oxford (B.A. 1890, M.A. 1896). He was ordained D. 1891, P. 1892, and has been since 1901 Vicar of S. Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill, London. He has been Secretary of the London Branch of the Christian Social Union since 1891, and is the author of The Parson's Handbook, 1st edition, 1899, and other works. He was one of the compilers of the English Hymnal, 1906, acting as Secretary and Editor, and contributed to it ten translations (38, 95, 150, 160, 165, 180, 215, 237, 352, 628) and portions of two others (242, 329), with the following originals:— 1. A brighter dawn is breaking. Easter. Suggested by… Go to person page >

Paraphraser (st. 1): E. B. G.

(no biographical information available about E. B. G..) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: A message came to a maiden young
Title: A Message Came to a Maiden Young
Author (st. 2-4): Percy Dearmer
Paraphraser (st. 1): E. B. G.
Meter: Irregular
Source: St. 1, Dutch
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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RitualSong #478

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