It was written by English hymn-writer, theologian, Roman Catholic convert and priest, Fr Frederick William Faber (1814-1863).
With meter 6.6.6.6 D, tunes it is set to include:
Chaste spouse of Mary hail!
Pure as the lily flow'r
In Eden's peaceful vale.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Prince of the house of God!
May His best graces be
By thy sweet hands bestowed.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Comrade of angels, hail!
Cheer thou the hearts that faint,
And guide the steps that fail.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
God's choice wert thou alone!
To thee the Word made flesh,
Was subject as a Son.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Teach us our flesh to tame,
And, Mary, keep the hearts
That love thy husband's name.
Mother of Jesus! bless,
And bless, ye saints on high,
All meek and simple souls
That to Saint Joseph cry.
With meter 6.6.6.6 D, tunes it is set to include:
- ST GALL, 1863 - or an unnamed tune from St Gall, used in the The St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book, 1920 - this appears to be widely used still.
- LAMBILLOTTE, by Louis Lambilotte (1796-1855).
- KINGSLAND by W. Boyce (1710-1779)
- An unnamed tune by Maria Jung Und Zart, from Gesangbuch, Cologne 1623
- An unnamed tune by I Müller
- An unnamed tune by H Whitehead
Downloads
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Examples
Unaccompanied singer, tune by Maria Jung Und Zart
Solo singer with light piano, tune ST GALL
Small church choir with organ, tune ST GALL
Choir of elderly nuns with organ accompaniment, tune ST GALL
Classical guitar - tune ST GALL
Choir with piano, words on-screen
Lyrics
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!Chaste spouse of Mary hail!
Pure as the lily flow'r
In Eden's peaceful vale.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Prince of the house of God!
May His best graces be
By thy sweet hands bestowed.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Comrade of angels, hail!
Cheer thou the hearts that faint,
And guide the steps that fail.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
God's choice wert thou alone!
To thee the Word made flesh,
Was subject as a Son.
Hail, holy Joseph, hail!
Teach us our flesh to tame,
And, Mary, keep the hearts
That love thy husband's name.
Mother of Jesus! bless,
And bless, ye saints on high,
All meek and simple souls
That to Saint Joseph cry.
I recall this hymn when I was at school in All Saints Liverpool
ReplyDeleteA young lad declared to the teacher that Our Lord had a surname which was "Hail "because we sang "Hail Holy Joseph Hail" !
I have never heard the hymn being sung since then !