Christ Is the World’s Redeemer

Christ is the world’s Redeemer,
The lover of the pure,
The Fount of heavenly wisdom,
Our trust and hope secure;
The Armor of His soldiers,
The Lord of earth and sky;
Our Health while we are living,
Our Life when we shall die.

Christ hath our host surrounded
With clouds of martyrs bright,
Who wave their palms in triumph,
And fire us for the fight.
Christ the red cross ascended,
To save a world undone,
And, suffering for the sinful,
Our full redemption won.

All glory to the Father,
The unbegotten One;
All honor be to Jesus,
His sole begotten Son;
And to the Holy Spirit—
The perfect Trinity.
Let all the worlds give answer,
“Amen—so let it be.”

Author: St. Columba

Year: 597

This is a translation of the 6th-century Latin hymn "Christus Rex et Salvator" (or "Christus mundi Redemptor"), traditionally attributed to the Irish saint Columba (Colum Cille). The English version is commonly credited to the original author in hymnals, though the translator is often John Ellerton or another 19th-century hand; the core lyrics and doxology match the Columba attribution.