GABRIEL'S MESSAGE DOES AWAY

A HYMN FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY IN LENT,

SAINT GABRIEL AND THE ANNUNCIATION

Piae Cantiones 1582,
translated by John Mason Neale (1818-1866) 

Gabriel's message does away
Satan's curse and Satan's sway,
Out of darkness brings our Day:
So, behold, all the gates of heav’n unfold.

He that comes despised shall reign;
He that cannot die, be slain;
Death by death its death shall gain:
So, behold, all the gates of heav’n unfold.

Weakness shall the strong confound;
By the hands, in grave clothes wound,
Adam’s chains shall be unbound.
So, behold, all the gates of heav’n unfold.

By the sword that was his own,
By that sword, and that alone,
Shall Goliath be o’erthrown:
So, behold, all the gates of heav’n unfold.

Art by art shall be assailed;
To the cross shall Life be nailed;
From the grave shall hope be hailed:
So, behold, all the gates of heav’n unfold.