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How shall we send off the old year and welcome the new?

Rev Fr Michael Chua

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It is has become conventional for people to throw yearend parties on the eve of the New Year with countdowns to midnight climaxing with everyone belting out Auld Lang Syne. But the Church has customarily viewed this as an occasion to offer thanksgiving to God.
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Instead of Auld Ang Syne, the Church sings another ancient hymn, the 𝑻𝒆 π‘«π’†π’–π’Ž. The hymn is commonly attributed to St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Doctor of the Church and the man who baptised St Augustine. However, the authorship of this venerable hymn of praise has never been firmly confirmed.

Te Deum

O God, we praise you; O Lord, we acclaim you.
Eternal Father, all the earth reveres you.
All the angels, the heavens and the Pow’rs of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim cry out to you in endless praise: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts,
heaven and earth are filled with the majesty of your glory.Β 

The glorious choir of Apostles sings to you,
the noble company of prophets praises you,
the white-robed army of martyrs glorifies you,
Holy Church throughout the earth proclaims you,
Father of boundless majesty,
with your true and only Son, worthy of adoration,
and the Holy Spirit, Paraclete.

You, O Christ, are the King of glory,
you are the Father’s everlasting Son;
when you resolved to save the human race,
you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb;
you overcame the sting of death
and opened wide the Kingdom of Heaven
to those who put their faith in you.
You are seated at the right hand of God
in the glory of the Father.

We believe you are the Judge who is to come.
And so we beg you, help your servants,
redeemed by your most precious blood.
Number them among your saints in eternal glory.

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
Shepherd them and raise them to eternal life.
Day by day, we bless you
and praise your name for endless ages evermore.
Be gracious, Lord, on this day,
and keep us from all sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy.
May your mercy be upon us, Lord,
as we place our trust in you.
In you, O Lord, I rest my hope:
let me never be put to shame.

Translation fromΒ ICELΒ (2020)

𝐴 π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘–π‘Žπ‘™ 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑠 π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘œπ‘ π‘’ π‘€β„Žπ‘œ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘–π‘‘π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑇𝑒 π·π‘’π‘’π‘š 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘˜π‘ π‘”π‘–π‘£π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘Ž π‘π‘™π‘’π‘›π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘¦ 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑠 π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑖𝑓 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ β„Žπ‘¦π‘šπ‘› 𝑖𝑠 π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘‘ 𝑝𝑒𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑦 π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘™π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘ π‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘¦π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿ.

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