CHRISTIAN LIFE >> JOY & PEACE
SDAH 471
Father grant us, grant us Your peace;
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For Worship Leaders
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Hymn Spotlight: Grant Us Your Peace
This hymn is based on the timeless Latin prayer Dona Nobis Pacem (“Grant us peace”), sung for centuries in a three-part canon. Though its exact composer is unknown, the melody reflects the beauty of early sacred music, sometimes linked to Palestrina or Mozart. In our hymnal, Ottilie Stafford provided the English text, with French and Spanish versions added by teachers from Atlantic Union College, and Melvin West arranged the accompaniment. Rooted in Jesus’ words, “My peace I give unto you” (John 14:27), the hymn is a gentle reminder that true peace comes only from Christ.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
The anonymously authored single Latin phrase Dona Nobis Pacem has for a long time been sung in this three-part canon form. The committee asked Ottilie Stafford (1921-; see SDAH 386) to prepare the English equivalent. Marcel Pichot, who furnished the French version, and Espi Wasmer, the writer of the Spanish text, are teachers in the Modern Language Department, Atlantic Union College, South Lancaster, Massachusetts. The scripture used is, “My peace I give unto you” (John 14:27).
While some collections of canons and rounds give credit to Palestrina (1525-1594) for this tune, there is no solid proof to indicate that he wrote it. The lyrical style of the melody suggests that Mozart might have been the composer. Melvin West (1930- ; see Biographies) wrote the accompaniment.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
Dona nobis pacem, pacem;
Dona nobis pacem.
Dona nobis pacem;
Dona nobis pacem.
Dona nobis pacem;
Dona nobis pacem.
2
Father grant us, grant us Your peace;
Oh, loving Father, grant us Your peace.
Grant us, grant us peace;
Grant us, grant us, grant Your peace;
Grant us, grant us peace;
Loving Father, grant us Your peace.
Hymn Info
Author
Latin source unknown
English, Ottilie Stafford
French, Marcel Pichot
Spanish, Wasmer
Copyright
Accompaniment may repeat either or both of these scores for the duration of the canon. Arrangement copyright 1984 by Melvin West.
Metrical Number
Attr. to Palestrina (1525-1594)
Accomp. by Melvin West, 1984 (1930-)
