31 December 2011

Giving thanks to God at the end of the year

The Te Deum  is a great hymn of praise of God. Traditionally, it is recited on New Year's Eve in thanksgiving to God for his blessings during the year which has passed.
Here is a video clip of a singing of the Te Deum during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Paris on 12th September 2008:


The Te Deum is recited often by priests, religious sisters and brothers, and others who have promised to recite the Divine Office. On special occasions, it is part of the Office of Readings. Here it is in English:

We praise you, O God: We acclaim you as Lord.
Everlasting Father,
All the world bows down before you.
All the angels sing your praise,
The hosts of heaven and all the angelic powers,
All the cherubim and seraphim
Call out to you in unending song:


Holy, Holy, Holy,
Is the Lord God of angel hosts!
The heavens and the earth are filled
With your majesty and glory.


The glorious band of apostles,
The noble company of prophets,
The white-robed army who shed their blood for Christ,
All sing your praise.


And to the ends of the earth
Your holy Church proclaims her faith in you:
Father, whose majesty is boundless,
Your true and only son, who is to be adored,
The Holy Spirit sent to be our Advocate.


You, Christ, are the king of glory,
Son of the eternal Father.
When you took our nature to save mankind
You did not shrink from birth in the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the power of death
Opening the Father’s kingdom to all who believe in you.


Enthroned at God’s right hand in the glory of the Father,
You will come in judgement according to your promise.
You redeemed your people by your precious blood.


Come, we implore you, to our aid.
Grant us with the saints
a place in eternal glory.


Lord, save your people
And bless your inheritance.
Rule them and uphold them
For ever and ever.

Day by day we praise you:
We acclaim you now and to all eternity.
In your goodness, Lord, keep us free from sin.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.


May your mercy always be with us, Lord,
For we have hoped in you.
In you, Lord, we put our trust:
We shall not be put to shame.

The hymn 'Holy God we praise thy name' is based on the Te Deum. Here it is, sung by the RTE Philharmonic Chorus on the Late Late Show, 18th October 1996:
 

Thanks be to God for all his blessings and goodness to us.