Saying the Apostles’ Creed has long been part of my morning devotions. Recently I have been praying the Te Deum Laudamus, an early church hymn traditionally ascribed to Saints Ambrose and Augustine, on the occasion of St. Augustine’s baptism by St. Ambrose in in AD 387. [Like the Apostles’ Creed, no one really knows its origin.] The hymn loosely follows the outline of the Apostles’ Creed, mixing a poetic vision of the heavenly liturgy with its profound declaration of faith.
Put on your poetic voice and try it…
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord; we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not shun the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
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