Now The Morning Is Begun was commissioned to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St. Michael's College School, a private Catholic high school for boys in Toronto, Canada. This work is constructed around two hymn tunes that have played a major role in the life of the school, Hymn To St. Michael and Michael, Prince Of All The Angels. The latter is the hymn in current use at the school, and it is from its verses that the title for this composition was drawn.