“Holy God We Praise Thy Name” is a beautiful traditional hymn that, for me, always evokes a feeling of swelling gratitude and awe of God as well as a feeling of standing before His throne, mirrored by standing before His Presence in the monstrance at the close of Eucharistic Benediction. 

Written by Father Ignaz Franz, a German priest, it is a paraphrase of the Te Deum. Fr. Franz originally wrote 12 verses, although he eventually edited it down to eleven and then eight verses. Different lengths still appear but in the English translation it seems most popular to include only eight. In 1858, it was translated into English by Fr. Clarence A. Walworth, an American convert from Anglicanism. It was added to Protestant hymnbooks early on but didn’t take off in popularity within Protestantism until the 20th century. However, the Protestant versions use a slightly altered melody. Among Catholics, it is still one of the most popular German hymns. “Holy God We Praise Thy Name” is often chosen as a concluding hymn for liturgical rites and can be used as a closing hymn during Benediction of the Eucharist.

At some point, it was added to military hymn books as a hymn of thanksgiving. However, this may have led to the unfortunate period of time wherein a final verse in praise of Hitler was added. This verse no longer remains. Its use surrounding war is not limited to this; earlier there was a pacifist version that was composed after World War I in Switzerland by Karl von Greyerz. 

It can be divided into three parts: the first in praise of God the Father (verses 1-4 in the English hymn), the second in praise of God the Son (verses 5-7), and ending with a series of petitions (verse 8). 

The full English translation of “Holy God We Praise Thy Name” can be found below. Additionally, a video of a beautifully sung version can be found at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuUGPniE1D4

May the words and music of this hymn bring you more deeply into love of Our Lord and awe of His majesty!

1. Holy God, we praise thy name!
Lord of all, we bow before thee!
All on Earth thy sceptre claim,
All in Heav'n above adore thee;
Infinite thy vast domain,
Everlasting is thy reign.

2. Hark! the loud celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising!
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heav'ns with sweet accord;
Holy, holy, holy, Lord!

3. Lo! the apostolic train
Join thy sacred name to hallow!
Prophets swell the loud refrain,
And the white-robed martyrs follow,
And from morn to set of sun,
Through the Church the song goes on.

4. Holy Father, holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name thee,
Though in essence only one,
Undivided God we claim thee;
And adoring bend the knee,
While we own the mystery.

5. Thou art King of glory, Christ!
Son of God, yet born of Mary;
For us sinners sacrificed,
And to death a tributary;
First to break the bars of death,
Thou hast opened Heav’n to faith.

6. From thy high celestial home,
Judge of all, again returning,
We believe that thou shalt come
On the dreadful doomsday morning,
When thy voice shall shake the earth,
And the startled dead come forth.

7. Spare thy people, Lord, we pray,
By a thousand snares surrounded;
Keep us without sin today;
Never let us be confounded!
Lo! I put my trust in thee;
Never, Lord, abandon me.