A Man Fully Living (In him we knew a fullness)

This is a hymn about Jesus.   It is based on St Paul's letter to the Colossians 1:15-20.

Some sources say that both the words and the tune were by English-educated scripture scholar, lecturer and author. Hubert Richards (1921-2010) - while others say it was translated by him, but do not say what it was translated from.

It was published by Kevin Mayhew Ltd in Songs of the Spirit:   Hymns and Songs of the Renewal volume 2, in 1981, and later in Hymns old and New with Supplement, 1989 - but was not in the 2009 Catholic Hymns Old and New edition.  Despite not being widely used in English-speaking countries, it has been requested by people who have heard it in places as diverse as South America, Africa (Zambia) and the Pacific (Fiji).  

If you know where to find a recording of the hymn, or currently-available sheet music, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

The hymn is set to an unnamed tune, also by Richards. This has a 6/8 time signature. In the key of A, the first few notes are E E_ E E_ A c c_ B BA A F E_, with accompanying chords A / D  / A.


Jesus - classical painting of him wearing a blue cloak and white tunic


Downloads

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Examples

No on-line examples have been found. If you know where one is, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website (the recording is no longer available, but the transcript further down has the words). 

A rough outline is:
Chorus:
In him we knew a fullness never known before,
in him we saw a man fully living.

1 In him we see the God who can’t be seen ...

2 The universe, and all its millions teeming ...

3 He lives in those who, breathing with his breath,

4 Through him alone a world by sin defiled...

See also

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
In him we knew a fullness never known before, in him we saw a man fully living. 1 In him we see the God who can’t be seen; in him all things that will be or have been have roots and take their being. 2 The universe, and all its millions teeming, seen and unseen, in him find their meaning, their reason and their value. 3 He lives in those who, breathing with his breath, source of their life, and conqueror of their death, together form his body. 4 Through his alone a world by sin defiled find its forgiveness, and is reconciled by his death our peace and healing.

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