This week I'm highlighting one of my favorite hymns. It's history is a bit cloudy. Thought to be written around 1607 by German Jesuits, it first appeared in print anonymously in 1677 in a German Roman Catholic publication. Of the four verses the first three were translated from German and the last added, in English in 1873, by Lutheran Pastor Joseph A. Seiss.
Fairest Lord Jesus
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul's glory, joy and crown.
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.
Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.
Blessings,
Linda