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Download the 8:50 a.m. Service bulletin

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Sunday, November 8, 2026

by Joshua L. Mazur, Director of Music

Hymn 324: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence is among the oldest texts in our hymnal. Its words are adapted from the Liturgy of St. James, an ancient Christian Eucharistic liturgy associated with Jerusalem and traditionally attributed to James, the brother of Jesus. The text entered English-language hymnody through a translation by Gerard Moultrie, an Anglican priest, published in 1864.

The hymn begins with an extraordinary instruction: “Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand.” The language reflects the reverence with which the ancient Church approached the mystery of the Eucharist. Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, comes to give Himself to His people as heavenly food. The hymn describes this mystery through the imagery of the Incarnation, the heavenly hosts, and the worship of angels surrounding God's throne.

The silence it calls for is an expression of awe before something beyond our full comprehension. We approach the altar with thanksgiving and humility, recognizing the extraordinary gift of Christ's presence among us.

PICARDY

The tune PICARDY is a traditional French melody, named for the region of northern France from which it comes. It was originally associated with a French folk song and was adapted for this hymn in The English Hymnal of 1906, edited musically by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Its modal character and restrained melodic movement give it an unusually ancient quality, even though its association with the English hymn text is comparatively recent. The melody is particularly effective when sung simply, allowing the congregation to attend closely to the words. As with many hymns in our tradition, the text and tune developed independently before being brought together in the hymnal.

The Heavenly Banquet

In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the ten bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom. Some are prepared for his arrival, while others discover too late that they are not ready. The parable concerns watchfulness and readiness for the coming of Christ.

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence approaches that same expectation through the language of worship. The hymn announces that the Lord of heaven comes among His people, and it calls us to receive Him with reverence. Its final stanza draws us into the worship of the heavenly host, where the angels continually proclaim God's glory.

Every celebration of the Eucharist gives us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet promised in Scripture. We gather at Christ's invitation, receive the gifts He gives, and join our worship to that of the whole Church in heaven and on earth.

How might our participation in the Eucharist change if we approached it with a greater sense of wonder?