New Year's and the Te Deum

When I was in eighth grade, New Year’s meant not only a change of year, but a change of century and a change of millennium.  I was in the St. Cecilia choristers at the Madeleine Choir School, and we sang for a special Mass that started before midnight on December 31^st and ended in the early hours of January 1^st.  Many things were special about that Mass, but two stand out in my memory.

The first is how excited we all were.  For many of us this was one of the first times we had been allowed, or indeed, encouraged to stay up for midnight and see the New Year in.  Of course, those who are old enough to remember the uncertainties about the impending start of the 2000s will recall that there was a certain amount of nervousness and “doomsday” prophecy going around as well, so that added to the general sense that this was a special day.

The second thing I remember was the fact that we sang a specially commissioned setting of the Te Deum.  The Te Deum is a traditional prayer of the Catholic Church, which typically is recited during Compline, the prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours said before sleep.

The text should be somewhat familiar to those who know the hymn “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name,” which is based on the Te Deum:

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.

V:  Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R:  govern and uphold them, now and always.
V:  Day by day we bless you;
R:  we praise your name for ever.
V:  Keep us today, Lord, from all sin;
R:  have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
V:  Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R:  for we put our trust in you.
V:  In you, Lord, is our hope;
R:  and we shall never hope in vain.

Imagine beginning a new year with this attitude of praise and thanksgiving for the greatness of God.  If you would like, make a resolution to include the Te Deum in your prayers more regularly.