O Lord of life, where'er they be

This hymn was intended for All Souls, but is one day late because of a blink in my internet connection.

In Spain All Saints and All Souls are important Christian holidays.

On All Saints the mainly Catholic community in our village visits the local churchyard to bring flowers to their departed.

Burial underground is impossible in mountain regions as the rock is very hard; so graveyards are built above ground.
The flowers are put at every grave and form quite a sea of diverse shapes and color which is most impressive.

I included a few pictures; they speak for themselves.

I could hardly find any hymns for All Souls, but finally dug one up from the Scottish hymnal. It is sung to the tune VULPIUS, which is rather cheerful, as is the text of the hymn itself.

I found it to be most touching. There is wailing enough already.

There is one half line introduction.

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O Lord of life, where’er they be,
Safe in Thine own eternity,
Our dead are living unto Thee
Halleluja

All Saints are Thine, and, here or there,
They rest within Thy sheltering care;
One providence alike they share.
Halleluja

Thy word is true, Thy ways are just;
Above the requiem: Dust to dust,
Shall rise our psalm of grateful trust
Halleluja

O happy they in God who rest,
No more by fear and doubt oppressed,
Living or dying, they are blest.
Halleluja