“Holy God, We Praise Thy Name” is one of the most beloved Catholic hymns in the English-speaking world, a joyful paraphrase of the ancient Te Deum sung at Masses of thanksgiving, Benediction, weddings, ordinations and feast days. It comes from the German hymn Grosser Gott, wir loben dich, and its majestic melody is known everywhere. Below are the lyrics in Clarence Walworth’s English version, the hymn’s history and meaning, and when it is sung.
The lyrics
Clarence A. Walworth’s translation, as printed in the Catholic section of The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920):
Holy God we praise thy name,
Lord of all we bow before thee;
All on earth thy scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore thee,
Infinite thy vast domain,
Everlasting is thy reign.
Hark! the loud celestial Hymn,
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and seraphim
In unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord;
Holy, holy, holy, Lord!
Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name thee,
While in essence only One,
Undivided God we claim thee;
And adoring bend the knee,
While we own the mystery.
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 heaven to faith.
History
- The German original, Grosser Gott, wir loben dich (“Great God, we praise thee”), was written in 1771 by Ignaz Franz, a Catholic priest in Silesia, as a paraphrase of the Te Deum for the people to sing.
- The melody, known as Grosser Gott, appeared in a Catholic hymnbook published in Vienna in the 1770s. It became one of the most loved tunes in German-speaking Catholic lands.
- The English version was made in 1858 by Clarence Walworth, an American convert and priest who worked as a missionary preacher and later served as a pastor in Albany, New York.
The meaning of the hymn
The hymn follows the great Te Deum:
- All creation praises God, “Lord of all,” whose reign has no end.
- The angels’ hymn: cherubim and seraphim cry “Holy, holy, holy, Lord!” (Isaias 6:3). See Holy, Holy, Holy.
- The Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Spirit, one undivided God, adored in mystery.
- Christ the King of glory, born of Mary, sacrificed for us, who opened heaven to faith.
See the full Te Deum in English and Latin.
When is it sung?
- At Masses of thanksgiving, jubilees, ordinations, weddings and the end of the year. See the Catholic New Year prayer.
- At Benediction and Eucharistic processions, especially as the closing hymn. See Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
- On Trinity Sunday and great feasts. See Trinity Sunday.
Frequently asked questions
Is Holy God, We Praise Thy Name a Catholic hymn?
Yes. Both the German original and the English translation were written by Catholic priests, and it is a staple of Catholic parishes.
What is the connection with the Te Deum?
It is a free paraphrase of the Te Deum, the ancient Latin hymn of praise.
Who wrote the English words?
Clarence A. Walworth, in 1858.
More hymns of praise
- Catholic hymns: lyrics and meaning
- Faith of Our Fathers
- Crown Him with Many Crowns
- Te Deum
- Holy, Holy, Holy
- Tantum Ergo and O Salutaris
- Catholic prayers of gratitude
- Divine Praises
- O Come, All Ye Faithful
Texts and sources
- Lyrics: Clarence A. Walworth (1858), as printed in The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920), Catholic section, public domain (Wikisource). Small transcription corrections are listed in our text log.