Wednesday 21 October 2015

God save our gracious Pope

It has occurred to me how rather beautiful is the (full) anthem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (and of Australia until as recently as 1984 with a brief hiatus in the mid-1970s). And how appropriate are the words when applied to that other somewhat well-known reigning monarch. With apologies to any (British) monarchists and those of a less Papist disposition:

God save our gracious Pope

Long live our noble Pope

God save the Pope

Send him victorious

Happy and glorious

Long to reign over us

God save the Pope


O Lord our God arise

Scatter his enemies

And make them fall

Confound their politics

Frustrate their knavish tricks

On Thee our hopes we fix

God save us all


Thy choicest gifts in store

On him be pleased to pour

Long may he reign

May he defend Thy laws

And ever give us cause

To sing with heart and voice

God save the Pope


Not in Roma alone

But be God's mercies known

From shore to shore

Lord make the nations see

That men should brothers be

And form one family

The wide world o'er


From every latent foe,

From the assassins blow,

God save the Pope!

O'er him Thine arm extend,

For the world's sake defend,

Our father, prince, and friend,

God save the Pope!


With the present goings-on, one could have lots of fun modifying this final (extremely politically incorrect) verse (and I mean no offence whatsoever to any Scots):

[Lord grant that [Marshal Wade]

May by thy mighty aid

Victory bring.

May he sedition hush,

And like a torrent rush,

Rebellious [Scots] to crush.

God save the [Queen!]]