Category: HYMNS

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 15 September – What A Sea Of Tears And Sorrow

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Our Morning Offering – 15 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady

O Quot Undis Lacrimarum
What A Sea Of Tears And Sorrow
Breviary Hymn for the
Feast of the Seven Sorrow
Attrib. Bishop Callisto Palumbella OSM (1687-1749)
Trans. Fr Edward Caswell COrat (1814–1878)

What a sea of tears and sorrow
Did the soul of Mary toss
To and fro upon its billows,
While she wept her bitter loss;
In her arms her Jesus holding,
Torn so newly from the Cross.

Oh, that mournful Virgin-Mother!
See her tears how fast they flow
Down upon His mangled body,
Wounded side, and thorny brow;
While His hands and feet she kisses—
Picture of immortal woe.

Oft and oft, His arms and bosom
Fondly straining to her own;
Oft her pallid lips imprinting
On each wound of her dear Son;
Till at last, in swoons of anguish,
Sense and consciousness are gone.

Gentle Mother, we beseech thee
By thy tears and troubles sore;
By the death of thy dear Offspring,
By the bloody wounds He bore;
Touch our hearts with that true sorrow
Which afflicted thee of yore.

To the Father everlasting,
And the Son Who reigns on high,
With the Co-eternal Spirit,
Trinity in Unity,
Be salvation, honour, blessing
Now and through eternity.
Amen

Attrib. to the Servite Bishop Callisto Maria Vincenzo Antonio Palumbella OSM (1687-1749), who also composed the Office for the Feast inserted in the Breviary in 1720. He was the Bishop of Terracina, Priverno e Sezze, Italy.
This Translation by Fr Edward Caswell COrat (1814–1878)

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK 2019, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The SIGN of the CROSS, The STATIONS of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 14 September – Faithful Cross Above All Others

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Our Morning Offering – 14 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Faithful Cross! Above All Other
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)

Faithful Cross! above all other,
one and only noble tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peer may be;
sweetest wood and sweetest iron,
sweetest weight is hung on thee.

Bend thy boughs, O tree of glory!
Thy relaxing sinews bend;
for awhile the ancient rigour
that thy birth bestowed, suspend
and the King of heavenly beauty
gently on thine arms extend.

Praise and honour to the Father,
praise and honour to the Son,
praise and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One:
One in might and One in glory
while eternal ages run.

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The HOLY NAME of MARY

Our Morning Offering – 12 September – Mary! How Sweetly Falls That Word!

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Our Morning Offering – 12 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary

Mary! How Sweetly Falls That Word!
Anonymous Author
19th Century
Tune (St Basil’s Hymnal 1903)
Unnamed Tune.

Mary! How sweetly falls that word!
On my enraptured ear!
Oft do I breathe, in accents low,
which sound when none are near.
Chorus:
Sing, O my lips and loudly proclaim:
O Mary, O Mary, how sweet is thy name!
Sing, O my lips
and loudly proclaim;
O Mary, O Mary, how sweet is thy name!

Sweet as the warbling of a bird,
Sweet as a mother’s voice;
So sweet to me is that dear name,
It makes my soul rejoice.
Chorus.

Bright as the glittering stars appear,
Bright as the moonbeams shine,
So bright in my mind’s eye is seen
Thy loveliness divine!
Chorus.

Through thee I offer my requests
And when my prayer is done,
In ecstasy sublime, I see
Thee seated near thy Son.
Chorus.

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 9 September – Fr Faber’s O Come and Mourn With Me Awhile

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Our Morning Offering – 9 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Our Lady’s Saturday

O Come and Mourn With Me Awhile
By Fr F W Faber C.Orat (1814-1863)

O come and mourn with me awhile,
See Mary calls us to her side;
O come and let us mourn with her.
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified.

Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and Jews deride?
Ah, look how patiently He hangs.
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified.

How fast His feet and hands are nailed,
His blessed tongue with thirst is tied,
His failing eyes are blind with blood.
Jesus, our Love, is Crucified.

O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act Thy strength is tried
And victory remains with love,
For He, our Love, is Crucified
Amen

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 8 September – The Angels’ Birthday Hymn to Mary

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Our Morning Offering – 8 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary

The Angels’ Birthday Hymn to Mary
Unknown Author

Hail to the Flower of grace divine!
Heiress, hail of David’s line!
Hail Redemption’s heroine!
Hail to the Virgin pre-elect!
Hail to the work without defect
Of the supernal Architect!

Hail to her ordained of old
Deep in enmities untold,
Ere the blue waves of ocean rolled,
Ere the primordial founts had sprung,
Ere in ether the globe was hung,
Ere the morning stars had sung!

Welcome the beatific morn
When the mother of life was born,
Whom all lovely gifts adorn!
What a thrill of ecstatic mirth
Danced along through heaven and earth.
At the tidings of Mary’s birth!

How was hell to its centre stirred!
How sang Hades when it heard
Of her coming, so long deferred!
Happy, happy, the Angel band
Chosen by Mary’s side to stand
As her defence on either hand!

Safe beneath their viewless wings
Mother-elect of the King of kings,
Fear no harm from hurtful things!
What though Eden vanished be,
More than Eden we find in thee!
Thou our joy and jubilee!

Posted in HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on KINDNESS

Our Morning Offering – 2 September– Lord, for Tomorrow and its Needs

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Our Morning Offering – 2 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”

Lord, for Tomorrow and its Needs
By Sister Mary Xavier (1877)

Lord, for tomorrow and its needs
I do not pray;
keep me, my God, from stain of sin,
just for today.

Let me both diligently work
and duly pray;
let me be kind in word and deed,
just for today.

Let me no wrong or idle word
unthinking say;
set Thou a seal upon my lips,
just for today.

And if today my tide of life
should ebb away,
give me Thy Sacraments Divine,
sweet Lord, today.

So, for tomorrow and its needs
I do not pray
but keep me, guide me, love me, Lord,
just for today.
Amen

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, MARIAN HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 30 August – Virginis Proles for the Feast of St Rose of Lima

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Our Morning Offering – 30 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Rose of Lima OP (1586-1617) Virgin

Virginis Proles
Anonymous Latin, 8th Century
Trans. Fr Edward Caswall C.Orat. (1814-1878)

O Thou Thy Mother’s Maker, hail!
Hail, Virgin-born! to Thee;
Hear us, who on this day record
Thy Virgin’s memory.

Oh, through her prayers our sins forgive,
All good and gracious King !
So purified in heart may we
Thy praise eternal sing.

All glory to the Father be;
Praise to His only Son;
With Thee, who dost from both proceed.
While endless ages run.

This Hymn is used for Matins in the Common of Virgins in the Extraordinary form of the Roman Breviary. Verses 1, 4 and 5 above, are used for a Virgin who is not a Martyr.

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PURITY, St JOHN the BAPTIST

Our Morning Offering – 29 August – O Blessed Saint of Snow-White Purity!

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Our Morning Offering – 29 August – The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist

O Blessed Saint of Snow-White Purity!
By Paul the Deacon (c720-796)
Transl. Fr Edward Caswall C.Orat. (1814-1878)
Breviary Hymn for Lauds

O blessed Saint, of snow-white purity!
Dweller in wastes forlorn!
O mightiest of the Martyr host on high!
Greatest of Prophets born!

Of all the diadems which on the brows
Of Saints in glory shine,
Not one with brighter, purer halo glows,
In Heav’n’s high Court, than thine!

Oh! upon us thy tender, pitying gaze
Cast down from thy dread throne;
Straighten our crooked, smooth our rugged ways,
And break our hearts of stone.

So may the world’s Redeemer find us meet
To offer Him a place,
Where He may set His ever-blessed feet,
Coming with gifts of grace.

Praise in the Heav’ns to Thee, O First and Last,
The Trine eternal God!
Spare, Jesu, spare Thy people,whom Thou hast
Redeem ‘d with Thine Own Precious Blood.

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES

Our Morning Offering – 27 August – The Seven Joys of Mary

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Our Morning Offering – 27 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Feast of the 7 Joys of Our Lady

The Seven Joys of Mary
Author Unknown
Earlist known date: 1833

The first good joy which Mary had,
It was the joy of one;
To see the blessed Jesus Christ
When He was first her Son.
Chorus:
When He was first her Son, Good Man
And blessed may He be,
With Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.
2 The next good joy which Mary had,
It was the joy of two;
To see her own Son, Jesus Christ
To make the lame to go.
Chorus:
To make the lame to go, Good Man
And blessed may He be,
With Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.
3 The next good joy which Mary had,
It was the joy of three;
To see her own Son, Jesus Christ
To make the blind to see.
Chorus:
To make the blind to see, Good Man:
And blessed may He be,
With Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.
4 The next good joy which Mary had,
It was the joy of four;
To see her own Son, Jesus Christ
To read the Scriptures o’er.
Chorus:
To read the Scriptures o’er, Good Man:
And blessed may He be,
With Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.
5 The next good joy which Mary had,
It was the joy of five;
To see her own Son, Jesus Christ
To bring the dead to life.
Chorus:
To bring the dead to life, Good Man
And blessed may He be,
With Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.
6 The next good joy which Mary had,
It was the joy of six;
To see her own Son, Jesus Christ
Upon the Crucifix.
Chorus:
Upon the Crucifx, Good Man:
And blessed may He be,
With Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.
7 The next good joy which Mary had,
It was the joy of seven;
To see her own Son, Jesus Christ
To wear the Crown of Heaven.
Chorus;
To wear the Crown of Heaven, Good Man,
And blessed may He be,
With Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Our Morning Offering – 24 August – Behold the Messengers of Christ

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Our Morning Offering – 24 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Feast of St Bartholomew, Apostle

Behold the Messengers of Christ
By Fr Jean-Baptiste Santeul (1630-1697)
Priest, Monk, Hymnist, Poet, Writer

Behold the Messengers of Christ,
Who sow in every place,
The unveiled Mysteries of God,
The Gospel of His Grace.

The things through mists and shadows dim
By holy prophets seen,
In the full Light of Day, they saw
With not a cloud between.

What Christ, true Man, Divinely wrought,
What God in Manhood bore,
They wrote, as God inspired, in words
Which live forevermore.

Although in space and time apart,
One Spirit ruled them all
And in their Sacred pages still
We hear that Spirit’s Call.

To God, the blessèd Three in One,
Be glory, praise and might,
Who called us from the shades of death
To His Own glorious Light.
Amen.

Trans. Compilers of Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861.
This Hymn was used for Vespers I & II and Nocturns on the Feasts of St Mark and St Luke in the Paris Breviary (1736). Cardinal Newman’s Hymni Ecclesiae has it listed for the same hours, as the Common of Evangelists in the Paris Breviary (presumably a later edition). Tune: “Tiverton“ J Grigg, c1791.

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CONTEMPLATIVE Prayer, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES on DOUBT, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MEDIOCRITY, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on WORRY/ANXIETY, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 20 August – St Bernard

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Quote/s of the Day – 20 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Feast of St Bernard (1090-1153) Confessor, Father and Mellifluous Doctor

“The more I contemplate God,
the more God looks upon me.
The more I pray to Him,
the more He thinks of me too.”

“The reason for loving God,
is God Himself!
As to how He is to be loved,
there is only one measure –
It is immeasurable!”

“In Him should all our affections gather,
so that in all things
we should seek only to do His Will,
not to please ourselves.”

“In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties,
think of Mary, call upon Mary.
Let not her name depart from your lips,
never suffer it to leave your heart.
And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer,
neglect not to walk in her footsteps.
With her for guide, you shall never go astray;
while invoking her, you shall never lose heart;
so long as she is in your mind,
you are safe from deception;
while she holds your hand, you cannot fall;
under her protection you have nothing to fear;
if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary;
if she shows you favour, you shall reach the goal.”

Lux Alma, Jesu
Light of the Anxious Heart
By St Bernard (1091-1153).
Father & Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

Light of the anxious heart,
Jesus, Thou dost appear,
To bid the gloom of guilt depart,
And shed Thy sweetness here.

Joyous is he, with whom,
God’s Word, Thou dost abide;
Sweet Light of our eternal home,
To fleshly sense denied.

Brightness of God above!
Unfathomable grace!
Thy presence be a fount of love
Within Thy chosen place.

To Thee, Whom children see,
The Father ever blest,
The Holy Spirit, One and Three,
Be endless praise addrest.

Translation by Cardinal Newman (1800-1890).
There are eight translations.
Liturgical Use: Hymn for Lauds on the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord.
This Hymn is a cento from St Bernard’s Jesu Dulcis Memoria.

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/08/20/quote-s-of-the-day-20-august-a-little-bit-of-bernards-wisdom/

St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father & Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

Posted in MARIAN Antiphons, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 20 August – The Memorare By St Bernard

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Our Morning Offering – 20 August – “The Month of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Feast of St Bernard (1090-1153) Confessor, Father and Mellifluous Doctor

The Memorare
By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father and Mellifluous Doctor

REMEMBER,
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known,
that anyone who fled
to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins,
my Mother,
to thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions
but in thy mercy
hear and answer me.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, THE ASSUMPTION, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 18 August – My soul doth magnify the Lord …

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Quote/s of the Day – 18 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – 4th Day Within the Octave of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin – Judith 13:22-25; 13:15; 13:10 – Luke 1:41-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And Mary said:
My soul doth magnify the Lord …
… my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
Luke 1:46-47

The Magnificat
The Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Luke 1:46-55
Indulgence 100 days

My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced
in God my Saviour.
For He hath regarded the humility
of His handmaid,
for behold, from henceforth,
all generations shall call me blessed.
For He Who is mighty hath done
great things unto me: and holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from
generation to generation
unto thos who fear Him.
He hath shown strength with His Arm,
He hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat
and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things
and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath upheld His servant Israel,
being mindful of His Mercy.
As He spoke unto our fathers,
to Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end!
Amen

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 17 August – Now that the Daylight Fills the Sky, We Lift our Hearts to God on High

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Our Morning Offering – 17 August – “The Month of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Pentecost X

Now that the Daylight Fills the Sky,
We Lift our Hearts to God on High
By St Ambrose (340-397)
Great Latin Father and Doctor of the Church
Trans J M Neale (1818-1866)

Now that the daylight fills the sky,
We lift our hearts to God on high
That He, in all we do or say,
Would keep us free from harm today,

Would guard our hearts and tongues from strife,
From angry words, would shield our life,
From evil sights, would turn our eyes
And close our ears to vanities.

So we, when this new day is gone
And night in turn is drawing on,
With conscience by the world unstained,
Shall praise His Name for vict’ry gained.

“All praise to You, Creator Lord!
All praise to You, eternal Word!
All praise to You, O Spirit wise!”
We sing as daylight fills the skies.
Amen

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY NAME of MARY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 16 August – Hymn to St Joachim

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Our Morning Offering – 16 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Feast of St Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hymn to St Joachim,
Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary
From the Liturgical Year, 1907

O Joachim,
Father of the Sovereign Maiden,
who in all purity gave birth to God,
present to the Lord, our petitions
and our chaste desires.

Thou knowest, by what angry waves
we are here tossed,
whom the cruel sea of this world wearies so,
Thou knowest how many battles Satan
and the flesh, prepare for us.

Now that thou art united ,
to the holy companies in Heaven,
or rather art placed at their head,
thou canst do all if thou wilt;
for rightly, neither Jesus, thy Grandson,
nor Mary, thy daughter, can deny thee aught.

Obtain by thy prayer
that our Blessed God
may give us pardon and peace
that united with thee,
we may sweetly sing canticles to Him.
Amen

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 12 August – Jesu Corona Virginum – Jesu, the Virgins’ Crown

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Our Morning Offering – 12 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Clare (1194-1253) Virgin

Jesu Corona Virginum
Jesu, the Virgins’ Crown
By St Ambrose (340-397)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Jesu, the Virgins’ Crown, do Thou
Accept us, as in prayer we bow.
Born of that Virgin, whom alone,
The Mother and the Maid we own.

Amongst the lilies Thou dost feed,
By Virgin choirs accompanied –
With glory decked, the spotless brides
Whose bridal gifts Thy love provides.

They, wheresoe’er Thy footsteps bend,
With hymns and praises still attend:
In blessed troops they follow Thee,
With dance, and song, and melody.

We pray Thee, therefore, to bestow
Upon our senses here below
Thy grace, that so we may endure
From taint of all corruption pure.

All laud to God the Father be,
All praise, Eternal Son, to Thee;
All glory as is ever meet,
To God, the holy Paraclete.

There are 13 translations. pf this Hymn. This one by J M Neale  (1818-1866).

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM

Our Morning Offering – 10 August – Holy Deacon Martyr, St Lawrence!

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Our Morning Offering – 10 August – St Lawrence (Died 258) “Keeper of the Treasures of he Church,” Martyr, Archdeacon.

Holy Deacon Martyr, St Lawrence!
Unknown Author

Holy Deacon! by thy yearning
For the Martyr’s glorious crown;
By thy tortures, by thy burning,
By thy death of bright renown;
When the world and flesh and devil
Tempt our souls to sin and evil,
Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

By the love that thou didst ever
To thy Pontiff-Father bear,
Pray that no base act may sever
Us from Peter’s loving care!
But when men would once more lead us
Into bonds from which Christ freed us,
Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

By the Pontiff’s words of warning,
Bidding all thy sorrows cease,
Words foretelling bitter mourning
Leading unto lasting peace!
That to Jesus in our sadness
We may look for help and gladness,
Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

By thy love, which knew no measure,
For the needy and the old,
Giving them the Church’s treasure
Dearer they than gems and gold!
Teaching us that alms well given
Are but treasures stored in Heaven,
Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

By thy fervent love for Jesus,
By thy strong and constant faith,
Of our sinful burdens ease us!
Help us at the hour of death!
When the fears of death confound us
When the cleansing fires surround us!
Dear Saint Lawrence, pray for us!

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRIST the LIGHT, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The TRANSFIGURATION

Our Morning Offering – 6 August – Lux Alma, Jesu – Light of the Anxious Heart by St Bernard

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Our Morning Offering – 6 August – The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Lux Alma, Jesu
Light of the Anxious Heart
By St Bernard (1091-1153).
Father & Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

Light of the anxious heart,
Jesus, Thou dost appear,
To bid the gloom of guilt depart,
And shed Thy sweetness here.

Joyous is he, with whom,
God’s Word, Thou dost abide;
Sweet Light of our eternal home,
To fleshly sense denied.

Brightness of God above!
Unfathomable grace!
Thy presence be a fount of love
Within Thy chosen place.

To Thee, Whom children see,
The Father ever blest,
The Holy Spirit, One and Three,
Be endless praise addrest.

Translation by Cardinal Newman (1800-1890).
There are eight translations.
Liturgical Use: Hymn for Lauds on the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord.
This Hymn is a cento from St Bernard’s Jesu Dulcis Memoria.

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, DOCTORS of the Church, HYMNS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART Quotes, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on MERCY, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The FIVE FIRST Saturdays, THE FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTION

Our Morning Offering – 2 August – O Mother Blest By St Alphonsus

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Our Morning Offering – 2 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Feastday of St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor

O Mother Blest
By St Alphonsus Maira Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
Trans. Fr Edmund Vaughn C.SS.R. (1827 – 1908 )

O Mother blest, whom God bestows
On sinners and on just,
What joy, what hope thou givest those
Who in thy mercy trust.
Thou are clement, thou are chaste,
Mary thou art fair,
Of all mothers, sweetest best,
none with thee compare.

O heavenly Mother, mistress sweet!
it never yet was told
that suppliant sinner left thy feet,
unpitied, unconsoloed.
Thou are clement, thou are chaste, …

O Mother, pitiful and mild,
Cease not to pray for me;
For I do love thee as a child,
And sigh for love of thee.
Thou art clement, thou art chaste, …

Most powerful Mother, all men know
Thy Son denies thee nought;
Thou askest, wishest it and lo!
His power thy will hath wrought.
Thou art clement, thou art chaste, …

O Mother blest, for me obtain,
Ungrateful though I be,
To love that God who first could deign
To show such love for me.
Thou art clement, thou art chaste,
Mary, thou art fair.
Of all mothers, sweetest, best,
None with thee compare.

Posted in HYMNS, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Our Morning Offering – 1 August – I’ll Sing a Hymn to Mary

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Our Morning Offering – 1 August – “The Month of the Immqculate Heart of Mary”

I’ll Sing a Hymn to Mary
By Father John Wyse (1825-1898)
Irish Priest and Hymn writer

I’ll sing a hymn to Mary,
The Mother of my God,
The Virgin of all virgins,
Of David’s royal blood.
O teach me, Holy Mary,
A loving song to frame,
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
To love and bless thy name.

O Lily of the Valley,
O Mystic Rose, what tree,
Or flower, e’en the fairest,
Is half so fair as thee?
O let me, tho’ so lowly
Recite my Mother’s fame.
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.

O noble Tower of David,
Of gold and ivory.
The ark of God’s own promise,
The gate of Heav’n to me.
To live and not to love thee
Would fill my soul with shame.
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.

When troubles dark afflict me
In sorrow and in care,
Thy light doth ever guide me
O beauteous Morning Star.
Lo, I’ll be ever ready
Thy goodly help to claim,
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
To love and bless thy name.

The saints are high in glory,
With golden crowns so bright;
But brighter far is Mary,
Upon her throne of light.
Oh that which God did give thee,
Let mortal ne’er disclaim;
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.

But in the crown of Mary,
There lies a wonderous gem,
As Queen of all the Angels,
Which Mary shares with them;
No sin hath e’er defiled thee,
So doth our faith proclaim;
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.

And now O Virgin Mary
My mother and my Queen,
I’ve sung thy praise so bless me,
And keep my heart from sin.
When others jeer and mock thee,
I’ll often think how I
To shield my Mother, Mary,
Would lay me down and die.

Verses 4, 5 and 6 omitted on image.

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HYMNS, JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 31 July – I Love Thee, O Thou Lord Most High!

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Our Morning Offering – 31 July – St Ignatius Loyola SJ (1491-1556) Priest, Confessor, Founder, Theologian, Spiritual Writer, Mystic

I Love Thee, O Thou Lord Most High!
Translation and Parphrase
of St Ignatius Loyola’s Latin Hymn
By Fr Edward Caswell CO (1814-1878)

I love, I love Thee, Lord most high!
Because Thou first hast loved me;
I seek no other liberty
But that of being bound to Thee.

May memory no thought suggest,
But shall to Thy pure glory tend;
My understanding find no rest
Except in Thee, its only End.

My God, I here protest to Thee,
No other will have I than Thine;
Whatever Thou hast given me,
I here again to Thee resign.

All mine is Thine — say but the word,
Whate’er Thou wllest shall be done;
I know Thy Love, all-gracious Lord;
I know It seeks my good alone.

Apart from Thee, all things are naught;
Then grant, O my supremest bliss!
Grant me to love Thee as I ought;
Thou givest all in giving this!

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, HYMNS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 30 July – Be Thou my Vision …

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Quote/s of the Day – 30 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Abdon and St Senen (Died c250) Martyrs – 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; Matthew 5:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward
will be great in Heaven.”

Matthew 5:12

“I know a man in Christ—
whether he was in or outside the body,
I do not know, God knows—
who was snatched up to the third heaven. . .
and heard secret words,
words which it is not granted to man to utter.”

2 Corinthians 12:2-4

“A servant of the Lord
stands bodily before men
but mentally,
he is knocking at the gates of Heaven.
with prayer.”

St John Climacus (c 525-606)
Father of the Church

Be Thou My Vision
By St Dallan Forgaill (c530- 598)
Martyr

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy Presence my Light.

Be Thou my Wisdom and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my Battle-shield, Sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and Thou only, First in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Son,
Heart of my heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

St Dallan here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/01/29/saint-of-the-day-29-january-st-dallan-forgaill-c-530-598/

“Give of your earthly goods
and receive eternal ones;
give earth and receive Heaven!”

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“ In this vale of tears, even the happiest life is misery
compared to the life in Heaven.
Even the perfect tranquillity and peace,
enjoyed by the Saints of God on earth,
is confusion and trouble compared
to the peace of Heaven.
Yet, we can begin even here,
a life which contains the germ of Paradise.
The essential element of Heaven,
is union with God,and those,
who are united to God by supernatural charity,
have in them, the seed of Heaven’s happiness.”

How to Begin Heaven on Earth
Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Posted in HYMNS, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS to the SAINTS

 Our Morning Offering – 26 July – Holy Anne, Juda’s Glory

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 Our Morning Offering – 26 July – St Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Grandmother of Jesus.

Holy Anne, Juda’s Glory
Unknown Author
Transl. Fr Edward Caswell CO (1814-1878)

Holy Anne, Juda’s glory,
⁠Through the Church from east to west
Every tongue proclaims thy praises,
⁠Holy Mary’s mother blest!

Saintly kings and priestly sires
⁠Blended in thy sacred line;
Thou in virtue all before thee
⁠Didst excel by grace divine.

Link’d in bonds of purest wedlock,
⁠Thine it was for us to bear,
By the favour of high Heaven,
⁠Our immortal Virgin star.

From thy stem in beauty budded
⁠Ancient Jesse’s mystic rod.
Earth from thee received the mother
⁠Of the eternal Son of God.

All the human race benighted
⁠In the depths of darkness lay,
“When in Anne it saw the dawning
⁠Of the long-expected day.”

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, GATE of HEAVEN, HYMNS, POETRY, St PETER!, The HEART

Quote/s of the Day – 6 July – The Gates of our true country

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Quote/s of the Day – 6 July – The Octave Day of Sts Peter and Paul

Decora Luce Aeternitatis
What Fairer Light?
Attrib. to H Elphis (Died 493) Wife of BL Severinus Boethius c 477– 524)
Trans. Msgr Ronald Knox (1888–1957)

What fairer light is this
than time itself doth own,
The golden day with beams
more radiant brightening?
The Princes of God’s Church
this Feast day doth enthrone,
To sinners heavenward bound
their burden lightening.

One taught mankind its creed,
one guards the Heavenly Gate,
Founders of Rome,
they bind the world in loyalty;
One by the sword achieved,
one by the cross his fate;
With laurelled brows
they hold eternal royalty.

Rejoice, O Rome, this day;
thy walls they once did sign
With princely blood,
who now their glory share with thee.
What city’s vesture glows
with crimson deep as thine?
What beauty else has earth
that may compare with thee?

To God the Three in One eternal homage be,
All honour, all renown, all songs victorious,
Who rules both heaven and earth
by one divine decree,
To everlasting years
in empire glorious.
Amen

5th cCntury Latin Hymn “Aurea Luce” attributed to H Elphis (Died 493), first wife of the Roman philosopher-poet Boethius (c475–c525). He would eventually be Martyred for his defence of the Faith against the Arian ruler, Theodoric.
Msgr Knox, a convert from Anglicanism, was a noted Scholar, Author, Hymnist and Translator, becoming the Secretary to St Pius X.
Under direction of his religious superiors, he re-translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into English from Hebrew and Greek sources.
What Fairer Light is set to the tune, Decora Lux by the English Catholic Composer, Samuel Webbe (1740–1816).

In 1632, in accord with changes called for by the Council of Trent, Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644) revised the original text of Aurea Luce and divided it into two new Hymns for Lauds and Vespers: Decora Lux and Beate Pastor Petre. In the Liturgy of the Hours, What Fairer Light is used on 29 June, the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles. The above is the Older version.

“There are the Gates of our true country,
the two lights of the immense world.
There Paul’s voice is heard like thunder;
there Peter withholds or hurls the bolt .
The former opens the hearts of men,
the latter opens Heaven.
Peter is the Foundation-stone,
Paul the Architect of the temple
where stands the Altar
by which God is propitiated.
Both together form a single Fountain,
which pours out its healing
and refreshing waters.”

St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)
“The Troubadour of Christ”

Posted in HYMNS, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, St Alphonsus de Liguori,, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 6 July – Glory Be to Jesus

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Our Morning Offering – 6 July – “The Solemnity and Month of the Most Precious Blood”

Glory Be to Jesus,
Who in Bitter Pains
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor
Trans. Fr Eward Caswell C.Orat. (1814–1878)

Glory be to Jesus!
Who in bitter pains
Poured for me the Life-Blood,
From His Sacred veins.

Grace and life eternal
In that Blood I find,
Blessed be His compassion,
Infinitely kind!

Blessed through endless ages
Be the precious stream!
Which from endless torment
Doth the world redeem.

There the fainting spirit
Drinks of life her fill.
There, as in a fountain,
Bathes herself at will.

O the Blood of Christ!
It soothes the Father’s ire,
Opens the Gate of Heaven,
Quells eternal fire.

Abel’s blood for vengeance
Pleaded to the skies
But the Blood of Jesus,
For our pardon cries.

Oft as it is sprinkled
On our guilty hearts,
Satan in confusion,
Terror-struck, departs.

Oft as earth exulting
Wafts its praise on high,
Hell with terror trembles,
Heaven is filled with joy.

Lift ye, then, your voices,
Swell the mighty flood,
Louder still and louder,
Praise the Precious Blood!

Tune: “Bemerton (Caswall)” Friedrich Filitz 1847

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HYMNS, MARIAN Antiphons, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The LITTLE OFFICE of MARY

Our Morning Offering – 2 July– The Feast of the Visitation – The Magnificat

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Our Morning Offering – 2 July – The Feast of the Visitation

The Magnificat
The Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Luke 1:46-55
Indulgence 100 days

My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced
in God my Saviour.
For He hath regarded the humility
of His handmaid,
for behold, from henceforth,
all generations shall call me blessed.
For He Who is mighty hath done
great things unto me: and holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from
generation to generation
unto thos who fear Him.
He hath shown strength with His Arm,
He hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat
and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things
and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath upheld His servant Israel,
being mindful of His Mercy.
As He spoke unto our fathers,
to Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end!
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, St PAUL!, St PETER!, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Our Morning Offering – 29 June – Apostolorum Passio By St Ambrose

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Our Morning Offering – 29 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus”

Apostolorum Passio
By St Ambrose (c340-397)
Father and Doctor of the Church

This happy day is sanctified
As Martyr’s glory we recall,
The cross bedewed with Peter’s blood,
The sword that won a crown for Paul.

The triumph of their Martyrdom
United these great souls in death,
Whose faith in Christ had crowned their lives
In service to their latest breath.

Saint Peter held the primacy,
Saint Paul would equal him in grace,
When once, as chosen instrument
The cause of Christ, he would embrace

Once, Simon, leaving Rome, turned back
To give, by death, full praise to God,
That by the cross he too should tread
The self-same path his Master trod.

Now Rome exults, as well she may
And strives to give devotion’s due
To one who sealed with his own blood
His work as Priest and Shepherd true.

And who can count the crowds that come
As loving children to her gate,
Where nations’ teacher, holy Paul
Once dwelt and gladly met his fate.

Grant us, O Lord, the final grace
Of sharing in their joy above,
That with such Princes we may praise
Your bounty and undying love.
Amen

Translation: The Benedictines of Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde, UK

Posted in HYMNS, POETRY, St JOHN the BAPTIST, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 24 June – St John the Baptist

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Quote/s of the Day – 24 June – The Nativity of St John the Baptist

“Amen I say to you.
there hath not risen
among them that are
born of women,
a greater than
John the Baptist.”

Matthew 11:11

God Called Great Prophets to Foretell
By the Benedictine Nuns
of Stanbrook Abbey, UK

God called great Prophets to foretell
the coming of His Only Son;
the greatest, called before His Birth,
the Baptist, John, the chosen one.

John searched in solitude for Christ
and recognised Him when He came.
He showed the world the Lamb of God
and, trusting, hailed Him in our name.

That lonely voice cried out the Truth
by men derided and denied.
As witness to the law of God
in faithful Martyrdom he died.

We praise Thee, Trinity in One,
the glorious Light of unknown ways,
the hope of all who search for Thee,
Whose generous Love fills all our days.

In the Divine Office, God Called Great Prophets to Foretell, is used for Morning Prayer on the Memorial of the Beheading of St John the Baptist, as well as with Evening Prayer I on Solemnity of the Birth of St John the Baptist.

Posted in EUCHARISTIC, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Our Morning Offering – 22 June – Soul of My Saviour, Sanctify My Breast

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Our Morning Offering – 22 June – “The Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus” – he Solemnity of Corpus Christi and Within the Corpus Christi Octave

Soul of My Saviour,
Sanctify My Breast
Trans. Attri. to Fr John Hegarty (1752-1834)

Soul of my Saviour,
sanctify my breast;
Body of Christ,
be Thou my saving Guest;
Blood of my Saviour,
bathe me in Thy tide;
Wash me with water
flowing from Thy side.

Strength and protection,
may Thy Passion be;
O Blessed Jesus, hear
and answer me;
Deep in Thy Wounds, Lord,
hide and shelter me;
So shall I never, never,
part from Thee.

Hear me, Lord Jesus,
listen as I pray;
“Lead me from night,
to never-ending day.
Fill all the world,
with love and grace Divine,
And glory, laud and praise,
be ever Thine.”

This Hymn is based on the original Latin text of the Anima Christi. Fr Hegarty is attributed with its translation and/or arrangement.
He was born in County Derry, Ireland, educated at Dublin University and was Ordained in June 1890 and spent most of active apostolic years in Brisbane, Australia. He died aged 82 years.

Posted in BLESSED TRINITY PRAYERS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS to THE HOLY GHOST, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, The HOLY GHOST, The MOST HOLY & BLESSED TRINITY

Our Morning Offering – 15 June – Patris et Filii Concordia Come Holy Ghost,Love of Father and Son. By St Bede

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Our Morning Offering – 15 June – Trinity Sunday
Patris et Filii Concordi – Pentecost I

Patris et Filii Concordia
Come Holy Ghost,
Love of Father and Son.
By St Bede the Venerable (673-735)
Father and Doctor of the Church

O COME to me, my only Hope,
O Lord my God.
Come to me, true Light,
Father, Almighty God.
Come, Light from Light,
both Word and Son of God,
God Almighty.
Come Holy Ghost, Love of Father and Son,
One God Almighty.
Come One Almighty God,
Father and Son and Holy Ghost.

Teach faith, stir up hope, pour out love.
Thy will is present with me
(yet not from me but from Thee)
to leave the world and the earth
and to seek the Heavens.
But this will is a feeble feather, without Thy help.
Give wings of faith
that I might fly on high to Thee.
Amen