Praise to the Holiest in the Height

Only someone with a head buried in the sand wouldn't know that John Henry Newman was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in Birmingham yesterday.

By happy coincidence the hymn for evening prayer last evening - (Sunday week 1 in the 4 week Divine Office cycle) - was the new Blessed's "Praise to the Holiest in the Height".

We also happened to sing the hymn at usual Sunday Mass yesterday but I have a sneaking suspicion that was more by design than by chance!

Praise to the Holiest in the height,
And in the depth be praise;
In all His words most wonderful,
Most sure in all His ways.

O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
A second Adam to the fight
And to the rescue came.

O wisest love! that flesh and blood,
Which did in Adam fail,
Should strive afresh against the foe,
Should strive and should prevail.

And that a higher gift than grace
Should flesh and blood refine,
God’s Presence and His very Self,
And Essence all divine.

O generous love! that He, who smote,
In Man for man the foe,
The double agony in Man
For man should undergo.

And in the garden secretly,
And on the Cross on high,
Should teach His brethren, and inspire
To suffer and to die.

Praise to the Holiest in the height,
And in the depth be praise;
In all His words most wonderful,
Most sure in all His ways.