And with the morn . . .

gwyn · Post by **gwyn** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:35 pm

Can anyone explain what John Henry Cardinal Newman meant in the lines from his hymn, 'Lead, kindly Light' that run,

"And with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!" ?

It's got me foxed, but then that doesn't take much.

nazard · Post by **nazard** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:16 am

I haven't got the full text with me at the moment, but I think he was referring to the resurrection of the dead at the second coming.

gwyn · Post by **gwyn** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:15 pm

Nazard wrote:

I haven't got the full text with me at the moment, but I think he was referring to the resurrection of the dead at the second coming.

Thanks N.

Here's the full text.

1 Lead kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene, - one step enough for me.

2 I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path, but now
Lead thou me on;
I loved the garish day, and spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will; remember not past years.

3 So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on,
Oâ€™er moor and fen, oâ€™er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

organist · Post by **organist** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:38 am

I don't understand it either but I do love it! Every morning I look at the photo of my dear Mum and Dad and their smile shines through my day so maybe Newman meant photos or pictures?

gwyn · Post by **gwyn** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:03 am

What a lovely thought.
Thanks for that, Organist.

quaeritor · Post by **quaeritor** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:06 pm

Aw c'mon guys - you're surely just setting a trap for gullible old fools like me - the clue's in the text - " . . the encircling gloom" . . "the night is dark . . ". In my best lecturese:- the imagery is of an at first reluctant acceptance of guidance through darkness - "night" if you would, towards light - "the dawn" if you will - and the joy anticipated is not the perhaps purer joy of the second coming but the more personal joy of reunion with the loved ones who have gone before.

Go on, then tell me I fell for it!

organist · Post by **organist** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 7:13 am

I can recommend a new book of writings by Newman edited by A.N.Wilson arranged with a short section each day - I'm astounded every day by the man's erudition!