There doesn’t seem to be much reliable information about Henry, an English born clergyman who became bishop of Uppsala, in 1152 and is credited with bringing Christianity to Finland. He traveled to Finland with the king of Sweden on a mission trip and remained there to organize the church. He was murdered in 1154 by a man he had disciplined according to canon law. Henry ‘s burial place became a center of pilgrimage. He is popular in both Sweden and Finland.
A Nordic hymn sung to a Finnish folk tune is placed in the Advent section of Evangelical Lutheran Worship (243), “Lost in the Night.”
Epiphany is the season of light and stanzas I, 3 & 4 fit well in that season.
Lost in the night do the people yet languish,
Longing for morning the darkness to vanquish,
Plaintively sighing with hearts full of anguish.
Will not the day come soon?
Will not the day come soon?
Sorrowing wand’rers, in darkness yet dwelling,
Dawned has the day of a radiance excelling,
Death’s deepest shadows forever dispelling.
Christ is coming soon!
Christ is coming soon!
Light o’er the land of the needy is beaming;
Rivers of life through its deserts are streaming,
Bringing all peoples a Savior redeeming.
Come and save us soon !
Come and save us soon!
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