Author: Anonymous; John Mason Neale, 1818-1866 Meter: 8.7.8.7 Appears in 26 hymnals Lyrics: 1 Blessèd feasts of blessèd martyrs,
holy days of holy men,
with affection’s recollections
greet we your return again.
2 Worthy deeds they wrought and wonders,
worthy of the name they bore;
we with meetest praise and sweetest
honour them for evermore.
3 Faith prevailing, hope unfailing,
Jesus loved with single heart –
thus they glorious and victorious
bravely bore the Martyr’s part.
4 Racked with torture, haled to slaughter,
fire, and axe, and murderous sword,
chains and prison, foes' derision
they endured for Christ the Lord.
5 So they passed through pain and sorrow,
till they sank in death to rest;
earth’s rejected, God's elected,
gained a portion with the blest.
6 By contempt of worldly pleasures,
and by deeds of valour done,
they have reached the land of angels,
and with them are knit in one.
7 Made co-heirs with Christ in glory,
his celestial bliss they share:
may they now before him bending
help us onward by their prayer;
8 that, this weary life completed,
and its fleeting trials past,
we may win eternal glory
in our Father’s home at last. Topics: Saints' and Other Holy Days For Any Saint Used With Tune: LANGDALE (REDHEAD) Text Sources: 12th century, Latin; Other translators: Editors of Hymns Ancient and Modern, alt.
Blessed feasts of blessed Martyrs