Sequence 77. St. Michael and All Angels

September 28th. '
LET our love break forth in praises,
And the hymn our choir upraises
In the holy angels' sight !

Praise is pleasant, praise befitting,
When our hearts, no sin committing,
With our lips in praise unite.

Michael let all men be lauding,
None of as ourselves defrauding
Of the gladness of to-day ;
Happy day, for ever telling
Of the triumph all-excelHng
Of the Angels' bright array !

Off is the old dragon driven,
And his legion, foes of heaven,
Put to ignominious flight :
In confusion the confuser
Is expelled, and man's accuser
Hurled from heaven's utmost height.

Whene'er Michael's help is given,
Peace on earth and peace in heaven,
Praise and jubilation, reign ;
'Tis his valour, might commanding,
For the common weal upstanding,
Triumphs on the battle-plain.

»
Prompting to sin's disgrace, «5
Thrust out from heaven's race.

Through the air's boundless space
Satan walks to and fro :
Watching with many a wile,
Breathes he in poison vile,
But guards at hand his guile
Utterly overthrow.

Hierarchies three in heaven
Are to ceaseless worship given,
And to ceaseless harmony :
Neither doth their adoration,
Nor their hymns without cessation,
Stay their ceaseless ministry.

O what wondrous love's volition
Is this thrice threefold division
Of the heavenly kingdom's host !

Man so loving and protecting.
As from men to be selecting
What it of its own hath lost !

Coaequalis his futurus,
Licet nondum plene purus,
Spe prsesumat praemium.

ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS. Ii
As 'mongst mankind we see
Diversities of grace,
So orders will there be
Of varied rank and place,
The righteous' glorious meed :
One glory hath the sun,
Another pale moonlight ;
The stars shine forth, each one
With its own glory bright ;
So shall the risen dead !

Let the old man, and the earthy,
Be renewed in fashion worthy
Of angelic innocence :
He may hope then in the sequel
To be crowned as their co-equal,
Though not pure from all offence.

Never ceasing to obey them,
Let us pious honour pay them.

That we may their help obtain ;
All devotion so sincere
To the angels brings us near,
And God's love for us will gain.

Therefore, breaking silence never
On heaven's secret things meanwhile,
Thither let us lift up ever
Hearts with hands all pure from guile;
That co-heirs the courts of heaven
Thus may deem us fit to be,
And by both due praise be given
To Divine grace equally !

To the Head all glory be,
'Mongst the members unity ! Amen.