Again we Keep this Solemn Fast / The Fast as Taught by Holy Lore

This is a hymn for Lent, which is traditionally sung on the first Sunday. It is based on the Latin hymn, Ex more docti mystico which is attributed to St. Gregory the Great (ca. 540-604). The words have references to Joel 2:12-18, Matthew 6:1-21, and Matthew 9:16-18.

The firstly widely-known English translation is The Fast as Taught by Holy Lore - made by English Anglican priest, scholar and hymnwriter John Mason Neale (1818–1866).

Another translation, which is now more widely used, was made by American Roman Catholic diocesan priest, Latin scholar and translator, Peter J. Scagnelli (1949 -2017). When this has been published, it is described as translated by Neale and adapted by Scagnelli. This suggests that Scagnelli may have started from Neale's version - although the adaptations are considerable, and the translations could have been made independently.

With long meter (8.8.8.8), tunes that the words have been set to include:

ERHALT UNS HERR from King's Geisiliche Lieder, 1543 - the tune published and most-commonly used with Again we Keep ...
OLD HUNDREDTH by French composer Louis Bourgeois (1510-1561) - the original tune for The Fast as Taught ..., and now sometimes used for Again we Keep ...
JESU CORONA - a Rouen church tune
TAKE UP THE CROSS by Filipino priest and singer/composer J. Roel Lungay (b 1960) © 1997

Downloads

This section may contain affiliate links: I earn from qualifying purchases on these. Free downloads are provided where possible (eg for public domain items).

PowerPoint slides

Included in a book of Scagnelli's hymns with sheet music

Buy sheet music from OCP

Examples

Choir (and congregation?) with piano, tune ERHALT UNS HERR

Small group with piano, tune ERHALT UNS HERR

Small choir with piano and handbells, tune ERHALT UNS HERR

Singer with guitar, tune ERHALT UNS HERR

Singer with guitar-led band, professional recording, tune TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Instrumental - piano with flute, tune OLD HUNDREDTH

Instrumental - organ, tune JESU CORONA

Instrumental - synthesizer, tune JESU CORONA

Lyrics

Original translation by Neale

The fast, as taught by holy lore,
We keep in solemn course once more;
The fast to all men known, and bound
In forty days of yearly round.

The law and seers that were of old
In divers ways this Lent foretold
Which Christ, all seasons’ king and guide,
In after ages sanctified.

More sparing therefore let us make
The words we speak, the food we take,
Our sleep and mirth, and closer barred
Be every sense in holy guard.

In prayer together let us fall,
And cry for mercy, one and all,
And weep before the Judge’s feet,
And His avenging wrath entreat.

Thy grace have we offended sore,
By sins, O God, which we deplore;
But pour upon us from on high,
O pardoning One, Thy clemency.

Remember Thou, though frail we be,
That yet Thine handiwork are we;
Nor let the honor of Thy name
Be by another put to shame.

Forgive the sin that we have wrought;
Increase the good that we have sought;
That we at length, our wanderings o’er,
May please Thee here and evermore.

We pray Thee, holy Trinity,
One God, unchanging Unity,
That we from this our abstinence
May reap the fruits of penitence.

Altered translation by Peter Scagnelli

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1 Again we keep this solemn fast, a gift of faith from ages past ...

2 The law and prophets from of old in figured ways this Lent foretold ...

3 More sparing, therefore, let us make the words we speak, the food we take ...

4 Let us avoid each harmful way that lures the careless mind astray ...

5 We pray, O bless Three-in-One, our God while endless ages run ...