Word of God come Down on Earth

This hymn, which is appropriate for both Advent and Lent (invoking Jesus the word) and Easter (celebrating that he has coming), was written by Scottish Roman Catholic priest and hymn-writer, James J Quinn SJ (1919-2010).

It is based on John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory."

The hymn was originally published in 1969 in Quinn's first collection, Hymns for All Seasons.

With meter 7.8.7.8.8.8, it is almost always set to the tune LIEBSTER JESU composed by Johann Rudolph Ahle (1625-1673).

Downloads

2-part mixed voices with keyboard / organ, by John A. Behnke.

Examples

Church choir with organ and woodwinds:

University choir with organ backing

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website.

A rough outline is

1 Word of God, come down on earth, living rain from heaven descending ...

2 Word eternal, throned on high, Word that brought to life creation ...

3 Word that caused blind eyes to see, speak and heal our mortal blindness ...

4 Word that speaks God's tender love, one with God beyond all telling ...