“Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior” is a liturgical hymn by Bernadette Farrell that celebrates Christ as the Word of the Father, the Son of God, and the one who calls humanity from darkness into light, leads people through the desert, teaches love and forgiveness, and unites them as one. Its refrain gives the song a clear center: “glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!”
The hymn is especially suitable for worship focused on the Word of God, Christian unity, freedom, discipleship, forgiveness, and the presence of Christ among his people. Its verses follow a consistent pattern, making it accessible to congregations and practical for liturgy teams.
Author and place in liturgy
“Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior” is another song by Bernadette Farrell. It is very popular with many liturgy teams, probably because it slots in just about anywhere.
The Word of God is alive and well in 2023! When we take time to read or listen to the Word of God, we hear God’s voice! What is God saying to us this moment?
Pope Francis has declared the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time to be WORD Sunday. Let us be attentive to God’s word!
Our entrance hymn this weekend is “Praise to You, O Christ our Savior” by Bernadette Farrell. Surely as the first verse indicates, God is calling us out of darkness into light. He brings us through the “desert” of our everyday living. Glory to you, Lord, Jesus Christ!
The hymn can also be connected with prayer for Christian unity and respect for all life.
Refrain
Praise to you, O Christ, our Saviour, Word of the Father, calling us to life; Son of God who leads us to freedom: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
The refrain identifies Christ through several closely connected images. Christ is the Savior, the Word of the Father, the one who calls people to life, and the Son of God who leads them to freedom. Each verse returns to the same act of praise, giving the hymn a strong musical and theological unity.
Verse 1: From darkness into light
You are the Word who calls us out of darkness; you are the Word who leads us into light; you are the Word who brings us through the desert: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
The first verse presents Christ as the Word who changes the direction of human life. The movement is from darkness into light and through the desert toward a destination sustained by God. The imagery can speak both of personal faith and of the everyday struggles through which a worshipping community seeks guidance.
Surely as the first verse indicates, God is calling us out of darkness into light. He brings us through the “desert” of our everyday living.
Verse 2: The promised one who speaks today
You are the one whom prophets hoped and longed for; you are the one who speaks to us today; you are the one who leads us to our future: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
The second verse connects the hope of the prophets with the present experience of hearing Christ’s voice. The one for whom the prophets hoped and longed for is also the one who speaks to people today and leads them toward the future.
This verse makes the hymn particularly appropriate when the liturgy emphasizes Scripture, proclamation, attentive listening, or the continuing relevance of God’s Word.
Verse 3: Servanthood, love, and the Word made flesh
You are the Word who calls us to be servants; you are the Word whose only law is love; you are the Word - made flesh who lives among us: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
The third verse moves from hearing the Word to living according to the Word. Christ calls believers to be servants, identifies love as the only law, and is described as the Word made flesh who lives among humanity.
The verse therefore joins doctrine and discipleship: Christ is proclaimed as the Word made flesh, and those who follow him are called to express that faith through service and love.
Verse 4: Unity and forgiveness
You are the Word who binds us and unites us: you are the Word who calls us to be one; you are the Word who teaches us forgiveness: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
The fourth verse focuses on the community formed by Christ. The Word binds people together, calls them to be one, and teaches forgiveness. These themes make the verse especially relevant to celebrations or prayers concerned with Christian unity, reconciliation, communal healing, and the life of the Church.
Let us pray this week also for Christian Unity and for respect of all life!
Complete text of the hymn
Refrain
Praise to you, O Christ, our Saviour, Word of the Father, calling us to life; Son of God who leads us to freedom: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Verse 1
You are the Word who calls us out of darkness; you are the Word who leads us into light; you are the Word who brings us through the desert: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Refrain
Verse 2
You are the one whom prophets hoped and longed for; you are the one who speaks to us today; you are the one who leads us to our future: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Refrain
Verse 3
You are the Word who calls us to be servants; you are the Word whose only law is love; you are the Word - made flesh who lives among us: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Refrain
Verse 4
You are the Word who binds us and unites us: you are the Word who calls us to be one; you are the Word who teaches us forgiveness: glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Refrain
© Bernadette Farrell 1984.
Musical character and performance considerations
A very fast version in piano and vocal can be heard here. Warning for groaners like me - it hits an E.
If you take the key down to Dm the guitarists will be unhappy, so perhaps some advance warning and creative capoing will do the trick.
The song lends itself to a consistent refrain-and-verse structure, which helps a congregation follow the form. At the same time, the repeated pattern requires attention to musical sensitivity so that the performance supports the text rather than overwhelming it.
It is hard to decide if I like songs like this that I have played so many times. This song lends itself to insensitive overplaying and perhaps needs a more delicate touch than I have been able to give it.
The lyric itself is fine and even the NLMB give it a tick.
Suggested liturgical placement
The hymn’s themes allow it to function in several parts of a liturgy. Its message about Christ calling people to life and freedom can support an entrance procession, while its emphasis on the Word makes it suitable for celebrations that highlight Scripture.
Its use as an entrance hymn has been specifically noted: “Praise to You, O Christ our Savior” by Bernadette Farrell.
At 6 p.m. Saturday and 12 Noon Sunday, I will be singing, “The Call” by Ralph Vaughn Williams as the gifts are prepared and presented.
| Liturgical emphasis | Related hymn theme |
|---|---|
| Word of God | Christ as the Word of the Father |
| Freedom and new life | Christ calling us to life and leading us to freedom |
| Conversion and hope | Movement from darkness into light and through the desert |
| Discipleship | Christ calling people to be servants |
| Love | The Word whose only law is love |
| Christian unity | The Word binding and uniting people as one |
| Reconciliation | The Word teaching forgiveness |
Musical resources and arrangements
Resources associated with the hymn include full-length high-quality MP3 recordings, keyboard accompaniment, instrumental accompaniment, guitar accompaniment, guitar and vocal lead sheets, octavos, and manuscripts.
- Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior [MP3] from Glory & Praise, Third Edition.
- Praise to You, O Christ Our Savior [MP3] from Journeysongs Third Edition CD Library.
- Praise To You O Christ Our Savior [MP3] from Restless Is the Heart.
- Praise to You, O Christ, Our Saviour [Accompaniment Package - Downloadable] from Breaking Bread/Music Issue.
- Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior [Octavo].
- Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior [Octavo - Downloadable].
- Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior [Keyboard Accompaniment - Downloadable] from Unidos en Cristo/United in Christ.
- Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior [Keyboard Accompaniment - Downloadable] from Breaking Bread/Music Issue.
- Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior [Instrumental Accompaniment - Downloadable] from Breaking Bread/Music Issue.
- Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior [Guitar / Vocal Lead Sheet - Downloadable] from Unidos en Cristo/United in Christ.
- Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior [Guitar Accompaniment - Downloadable] from Breaking Bread/Music Issue.
- Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior [Manuscript].
The hymn is represented in both vocal and instrumental formats, allowing it to be approached through piano and voice, guitar, keyboard, instrumental accompaniment, choral presentation, or congregational singing.
Key themes for reflection
Christ as the Word
Every verse returns to the identity of Christ as the Word. The Word calls, leads, speaks, teaches, binds, unites, and lives among humanity. The refrain places this identity within praise of Christ as Savior and Son of God.
Movement from darkness to light
The first verse gives the hymn a clear image of spiritual movement. Christ calls people out of darkness, leads them into light, and brings them through the desert. This language can express conversion, perseverance, hope, and trust in God during difficult circumstances.
Life and freedom
The refrain presents Christ as the one who calls people to life and leads them to freedom. These two ideas establish the central direction of the hymn: Christ does not merely receive praise as a distant figure but actively calls and leads his people.
Love and service
The third verse explains how the response to Christ should take shape. Those who hear the Word are called to be servants, and the law they are given is love.
Unity and forgiveness
The fourth verse describes a community held together by Christ. Unity is not presented as a purely human achievement; it is connected with the Word who binds, calls people to be one, and teaches forgiveness.
Attribution
Bernadette Farrell wrote “Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior” in 1984.