Let hymns of joyful triumph rise
Like fragrant incense to the skies;
Christ by a way before untrod
Ascends unto the throne of God.
Refrain
Triumphant Lord! on this bright day,
A tribute of pure love we pay;
And, like the angels, we would raise
Our voice, and sing thine endless praise.
Th’ Apostles on the mountain stand,
The mystic mount of Holy Land,
And with the Blessed Mother see
Jesus ascend in majesty.
To whom the angels drawing nigh,
“Why stand and gaze upon the sky?
This is the Saviour” thus they say,
“This is His noble triumph day.”
“Again ye shall behold Him so,
As ye to-day have seen Him go,
In glorious pomp ascending high,
Up to the portals of the sky.”
Jesus! on that tremendous day,
Our sole Redemption, Thee we pray
Vouchsafe to number us on high
Amongst thy Saints’ blest company.
E. F. MacGonigle, The Sodalist’s Hymnal (Philadelphia: E. F. MacGonigle, 1887).
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