I featured another part of the Dona Nobis Pacem as #95. This is at the end. It's preceded by words from a speech by John Bright in the British House of Commons during the Crimean War:
The Angel of Death has been abroad throughout the land; you may almost hear the beating of his wings. There is no one as of old . . . to sprinkle with blood the lintel and the two side-posts of our doors, that he may spare and pass on.
... and by a passage from the book of Jeremiah (8:15-22):
We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!
The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan; the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones;
for they are come, and have devoured the land, and those that dwell therein.
. . .
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved...
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?
Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
Dona Nobis Pacem ends (almost) on a joyous and hopeful note with O Man Greatly Beloved (taken from various parts of scripture):
O man, greatly beloved, fear not, peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former, and in this place will I give peace.
Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall there be war any more.
And none shall make them afraid, neither shall the sword go through the land.
Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go into them.
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled; and let them hear, and say, it is the truth.
And it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see my glory.
And I will set a sign among them, and they shall declare my glory among the nations.
For as the new heavens, and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, so shall your seed and your name remain for ever.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men.
Isn't that a beautiful line: "righteousness and peace have kissed each
other." The piece ends with a haunting "dona nobis pacem."
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