Iustorum animae in manu Dei sunt, alleluia!

This was posted on All Hallows' Eve, as we mark the holy Vigil of the Solemnity of All the Saints:

IN FESTUM OMNIUM SANCTORUM

"Give me the wings of faith to rise
within the veil, and see
the saints above, how great their joys,
how bright their glories be.

Once they were mourning here below,
and wet their couch with tears:
they wrestled hard, as we do now,
with sins, and doubts, and fears.

I ask them whence their victory came:
they, with united breath,
ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
their triumph to his death.

They marked the footsteps that he trod,
his zeal inspired their breast;
and following their incarnate God,
possess the promised rest.

Our glorious Leader claims our praise
for his own pattern given;
while the long cloud of witnesses
show the same path to heaven."

Words by Isaac Watts (1709)

There is a fine anthem setting of part of this poem by Ernest Bullock which may be heard online at this link, courtesy of Lammas Records.

The photo above is from a Book of Gospels & Epistles, (1864: Ratisbon & New York).