“When the King Shall Come Again” is a mid-20th-century hymn set to a 16th-century melody. It is appropriately sung on the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary time.
The lyrics are a paraphrasing of Isaiah, Chapter 35. It was penned by Christopher Idle, a noted hymnist and priest of the Church of England. Idle has written more than 300 hymns in his career.
The melody is from Bohemian composer and priest Jan Roh. Roh was the editor of the Bohemian Hymn Book and wrote many melodies that have become attached to German hymns.
And today we celebrate...