Welcome, Happy Morning!

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn they came to the tomb taking the spices that they had prepared.
Luke 24:1

Welcome, Happy Morning! is an old Easter hymn. The words were written by an Italian named Venantius Fortunatus in 530AD. He became a popular bishop. The music was written by Arthur Seymour Sullivan, who is better known for collaborating with a partner named William Gilbert. The team of Gilbert and Sullivan wrote a number of operettas, one of which is the popular The Pirates of Penzance.

Welcome, Happy Morning! was included in the 1955 collection of hymns found in The Hymnbook of the Presbyterian Church. If its lyrics stood the test of time for 1500 years it seems that it still has something to offer us today as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Take a look at those lyrics and see if you don’t agree!

Prayer

O God, let us never forget hymns that have stood the test of time and that still communicate important truths for us today. No hymn collection can contain all the hymns that people would like to sing for such a tome would be unwieldy. Help us to praise You by singing old familiar hymns and new songs of faith. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.