Hymn for St. Nicholas Day

Let us lift our joyful voices
in sweet well-timed harmony;
sing of Nicholas the blessed
and his works of clemency.

As a child, he studied closely
God's good Word and holy ways.
Called by God to be a bishop;
serving through his final days.

To the poor, the sick, the orphans,
works of mercy he did show;
miracles of God's great goodness
and his love for all to know.

Money needed for a ransom
of three maidens, bound and sold;
retribution paid he for them,
with three rings of bishop's gold.

Praying on a ship most ancient,
tossed about the raging sea;
calm became the swelling waters;
God looked down and heard his plea.

Nicholas your works remembered,
as we all rejoice this day;
Guide us through the stormy tempest,
help us not to lose our way.

Text: Anonymous, 11th century Latin
Paraphrased by J. Kucharski, 1994
Tune: STUTTGART 87 87

Musical notation PDF

The hymn was arranged for the Very Revd Gary W. Kriss when he was Dean of Nashotah House, an Episcopal seminary in Nashotah, Wisconsin.

By Canon Joseph A. Kucharski, Associate Professor of Church Music at Nashotah House seminary and precenter at Cathedral of All Saints, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Used by permission.

Mp3 file courtesy of Jennifer Wolfe and the Hope College Music Department.

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