The Collection of the Greatest Catholic Hymns. Henry Formby
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies;
He who, thron'd in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim.
Hail, &c.
"Say, ye holy shepherds, say
What your joyful news to-day?
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?"
Hail, &c.
"As we watch'd at dead of night,
Lo! we saw a wondrous light;
Angels singing, 'Peace on earth,'
Told us of the Saviour's birth."
Hail, &c.
Sacred Infant! all divine!
What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss
Down to such a world as this!
Hail, &c.
Teach, oh, teach us, holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild;
Teach us to resemble thee
In Thy sweet humility.
Hail, &c.
Virgin Mother! Mary blest!
By the joys that fill thy breast,
Pray for us, that we may prove
Worthy of the Saviour's love
Hail,&c.
Veni Creator.
Come, O Creator Spirit blest!
And in our souls take up Thy rest;
Come, with Thy grace and heav'nly aid,
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made
Great Paraclete! to Thee we cry:
O highest gift of God most high!
O fount of life! O fire of love!
And sweet Anointing from above!
Thou in thy sevenfold gifts art known;
Thee Finger of God's hannd we own;
The promise of the Father thou!
Who dost the tounge with pow'r endow.
Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts o'erflow with love;
With patience firm, and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.
Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us Thy true peace instead;
So shall we not, with Thee for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow,
The Father and the Son to know;
And Thee through endless times confess'd
Of both th' eternal Spirit blest.
All glory while the ages run
Be to the Father and the Son
Who rose from death; the same to Thee,
O Holy Ghost eternally.
Machined by Robson and Levy, Great New Street, E.C.
Divine Grace.
O Jesu, my beloved King,
I give all thanks to Thee,
Who by Thy cross hast merited
Celestial grace for me.
In Adam rais'd to dignities
Transcendent and divine;
In Adam fallen from the bliss
That once in him was mine.—
That grace to which my native strength,
Could never have attain'd,
That grace, O my Incarnate God,
In Thee I have regain'd.
O gift of love! O gift immense!
Surpassing nature's law;
What force to will and to perform
From this pure fount I draw.
By this how many passing acts,
Which else had been in vain,
Endued with meritorious power,
A prize eternal gain!
By this to me is open'd wide,
Through death's inviting door,
A brighter world, a nobler realm
Than Adam lest of yore.
O Jesu! on whose grace alone
I by Thy grace depend,
Grant me the grace to persevere
In grace unto the end.
Divine Providence.
Behold the lilies of the field,
They neither toil nor sow;
Yet God doth all things needful yield,
That they may bud and blow.
Not Solomon in glory shone
Like one of these poor flowers,
That look to God, and God alone,
For sunshine and for showers.
And does His mercy value less
The offspring of His grace?
And will a Father's love not bless
The child that seeks His face?
Oh, then away with fear and care
For all that may betide:
And turn to God in trustful pray'r,
And in His love confide.
He is our Father, and He knows
His earthly children's need;
On all our daily wants and woes
He looks with careful heed.
Easter Hymn.
(I.)
Victimæ Paschali laudes.
Christ the Lord is ris'n to-day:
Christians, haste your vows to pay;
Offer ye your praises meet
At the Paschal Victim's feet.