Our Savior and Redeemer Blest

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O thou Redeemer of our race

Author: St. Ambrose; Translator (English): Ray Palmer; Translator (German): Johann Franck
Published in 2 hymnals

Representative Text

1 O Thou Redeemer of our race!
Come show the Virgin's Son to earth;
Let ev'ry age admire the grace;
Worthy a God thy human birth!

2 'Twas by no mortal will or aid,
But by the Holy Spirit's might
That flesh the Word of God was made,
A Babe yet waiting for the light.

3 As if from honor's royal hall,
Comes forth at length the Mighty One,
Whom Son of God and Man they all,
Eager His destined course to run.

4 Forth from the Father's bosom sent,
To Him returned, He claimed His own;
Down to the realms of death He went,
Then rose to share th'eternal throne.

5 An equal at the Father's side,
Thou wear'st the trophy of Thy flesh;
In Thee our nature shall abide
In strength complete, in beauty fresh.

6 With light divine Thy manger streams,
That kindles darkness into day;
Dimmed by no night henceforth, it beams:
Shine through all time with changeless ray.

Source: Wartburg Hymnal: for church, school and home #87

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Author: St. Ambrose

Ambrose (b. Treves, Germany, 340; d. Milan, Italy, 397), one of the great Latin church fathers, is remembered best for his preaching, his struggle against the Arian heresy, and his introduction of metrical and antiphonal singing into the Western church. Ambrose was trained in legal studies and distinguished himself in a civic career, becoming a consul in Northern Italy. When the bishop of Milan, an Arian, died in 374, the people demanded that Ambrose, who was not ordained or even baptized, become the bishop. He was promptly baptized and ordained, and he remained bishop of Milan until his death. Ambrose successfully resisted the Arian heresy and the attempts of the Roman emperors to dominate the church. His most famous convert and disciple w… Go to person page >

Translator (English): Ray Palmer

Ray Palmer (b. Little Compton, RI, 1808; d. Newark, NJ, 1887) is often considered to be one of America's best nineteenth-century hymn writers. After completing grammar school he worked in a Boston dry goods store, but a religious awakening prodded him to study for the ministry. He attended Yale College (supporting himself by teaching) and was ordained in 1835. A pastor in Congregational churches in Bath, Maine (1835-1850), and Albany, New York (1850-1865), he also served as secretary of the American Congregational Union (1865-1878). Palmer was a popular preacher and author, writing original poetry as well as translating hymns. He published several volumes of poetry and hymns, including Sabbath Hymn Book (1858), Hymns and Sacred Pieces (1865… Go to person page >

Translator (German): Johann Franck

Johann Franck (b. Guben, Brandenburg, Germany, 1618; d. Guben, 1677) was a law student at the University of Köningsberg and practiced law during the Thirty Years' War. He held several positions in civil service, including councillor and mayor of Guben. A significant poet, second only to Paul Gerhardt in his day, Franck wrote some 110 hymns, many of which were published by his friend Johann Crüger in various editions of the Praxis Pietatis melica. All were included in the first part of Franck’s Teutsche Gedichte bestehend im geistliche Sion (1672). Bert Polman… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	O thou Redeemer of our race
Title:	Our Savior and Redeemer Blest
German Title:	Komm, Heidenheiland Lösegeld
Author:	St. Ambrose
Translator (English):	Ray Palmer
Translator (German):	Johann Franck
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain