Catholic Hymns. Henry Formby
Saint Teresa
Music, suitable for this collection of Hymns, may be had in a separate 4to Volume, "Catholic Hymns," &c., arranged for Singing in Parts and for the Organ, with the words, in full
"See down his face and neck and breast
His sacred blood descend."
A Child's Hymn to the Blessed Virgin.
Maiden Mother, meek and mild,
Take, oh, take me for thy child.
All my life, oh, let it be
My best joy to think of thee.
When my eyes are clos'd in sleep
Through the night my slumbers keep,
Make my latest thought to be,
How to love thy Son and thee.
Teach me when the sunbeam bright
Calls me with its golden light,
How my waking thoughts may be
Turn'd to Jesus and to thee.
And, oh, teach me through the day
Oft to raise my heart and say,
"Maiden Mother, meek and mild,
Guard, oh, guard thy little child!"
Thus, sweet Mother, day and night
Thou shalt guide my steps aright;
And my dying words shall be,
"Virgin Mother, pray for me!"
Advent Hymn.
Creator of the starry frame,
Eternal light of all who live;
Jesu, Redeemer of mankind,
An ear to Thy poor suppliants give.
When man, o'erwhelm'd in sin and death,
Was wholly lost in Satan's snare,
Love brought Thee down to cure our ills,
By taking of those ills a share.
Thy love for guilty men it was
That caus'd Thy sacred blood to flow;
When issuing from Thy virgin shrine,
Thou didst to death a victim go.
Great Judge of all, in that last day
When friends shall fail and foes combine,
Look down in pity then, we pray,
And guard us with Thine arm divine.
To God the Father and the Son
All praise and power and glory be,
With thee, O sacred Paraclete,
Both now and through eternity.
MISCELLANEOUS HYMNS.
An Evening Hymn to the Blessed Virgin.
As the dewy shades of even
Gather o'er the balmy air,
Listen, gentle Queen of Heav'n,
Listen to my vesper prayer
Holy Mother, near me hover,
Free my thoughts from aught defil'd;
With thy wings of mercy cover,
Safe from harm, thy helpless child.
Thine own sinless heart was broken,
Sorrow's sword had pierc'd it through;
Give, oh, give me some sweet token
Of thy tender love so true.
Queen of sorrows, guard and guide me,
Let me to thine arms repair;
In thy tender bosom hide me,
Mary, take me to thy care,
Christmas Hymn.
(I.)
Sing, my tongue, the Saviour's glory,
Sing with joy and holy mirth;
Tell aloud the famous story
Of His spotless virgin birth:
How He comes, an infant stranger,
Here to dwell with us on earth.
Now the long-expected fulness
Of the sacred time draws nigh;
Now for us the Word eternal
Leaves his Father's throne on high;
From a virgin's womb appearing,
Cloth'd in our mortality.
All within a lowly manger,
Lo, a helpless Babe He lies;
See, His gentle virgin Mother
Lull to sleep His infant cries,
While the limbs of God incarnate
Round with swathing bands she ties.
Blessing, honour everlasting
To th' immortal Deity;
To the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Equal adoration be.
Prais'd be Thou through earth and heaven,
Sempiternal Unity.
Christmas Hymn.
(ii.)
See amid the winter's snow,
Born for us on earth below,
See the tender Lamb appears,
Promis'd from eternal years.
Hail, thou ever-blessed morn!
Hail, redemption's happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry