Our Morning Offering – 21 September – The Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
O Matthew, Christ
Just Bade You Come
The glory that surrounds your name,
O blessed Levi, is a proof
Of God’s all loving clemency
Besides a sign of hope for us.
While seated at your counting board,
O Matthew, Christ just bade you come,
Without a word of all the wealth
Of grace He had in store for you.
Your heart no hesitation knew,
From then your house became His own,
In following, you gave up all
To earn the triumph of the Twelve.
The life the Son of David led,
The words He spoke, you stored as gold,
Which, handed down the centuries,
Have fed and taught the Christian world.
You spread the Gospel fearlessly;
Until at last you shed your blood,
In witness to your faith in Christ
And pledge of your undying love.
Apostle and evangelist
With Martyrdom as final crown,
Bring us to heaven, that with you
God’s praises we may ever sing.
Amen.
Text: Præclara qua tu gloria
Trans: The Benedictines of Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde, UK
AnaStpaul 