The Te Deum

Sunday March 21, 2021

The Te Deum

Sing the glory of his name, celebrate his glory with your praise! Psalm 66.2

“Great God, we bless you, we celebrate your praises ;

Lord, we exalt you, together with the angels,

And prostrate before you, we adore you, O great King... "

The words of this majestic canticle are a version of the Te Deum, written in 1817 by the Protestant theologian Henri-Louis Empaytaz (1790-1853). The Te Deum is a Christian hymn of thanksgiving in Latin prose, probably composed at the beginning of the fifth century. It has been sung throughout the centuries on great occasions such as the celebration of victories, peace treaties, national holidays, princely births... or any other circumstance for which we wanted to thank God. Illustrious musicians such as Haydn, Handel, Mozart, Berlioz... have proposed musical arrangements.

This song sums up all the content of the Christian faith. He proclaims the glory, majesty and holiness of the Creator. It also celebrates the Son of God who came to earth as an innocent Lamb offering himself as a sacrifice to save us. He continues with this beautiful prayer :

"May your reign of peace extend to everyone,

From now to forever... !"

before concluding with an invitation to worship God in his Trinity :

“Glory be to the Holy Spirit ! Glory be to God the Father !

Glory be to Jesus Christ, Our Savior, our Brother !"

May we join in these words !

Bernard Grebille

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Proposed Reading : Psalm 66.

Source (Live Today)