MAKER of the starry sphere,
Light to faithful bosoms dear;
JESU, SAVIOUR, LORD of all,
Hearken to Thy people's call.
In the blessed Virgin's womb
Purest flesh Thou didst assume,
That to God above might rise
An all-holy Sacrifice.
Unto heaven exalted now,
At Thy holy Name shall bow
All that on the earth do dwell,
All in heaven, and all in hell.
Thou, Who on the judgment day
Our most secret thoughts shalt weigh,
Shield us now with pitying care,
Guard us from temptation's snare.
COME, HOLY GHOST, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire;
Thou the anointing SPIRIT art,
Who dost Thy sevenfold gifts impart;
Thy blessed unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
The dulness of our blinded sight;
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of Thy grace;
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Where Thou art guide no ill can come.
Teach us to know the FATHER, SON,
And Thee, of both, to be but one;
That through the ages all along,
This still may be our endless song;
All praise to Thy eternal merit,
O FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT.
COME, HOLY GHOST, Who ever one
Art with the FATHER and the SoN;
Come, HOLY GHOST, our souls possess
With Thy full flood of holiness.
Let mouth, and heart, and flesh combine
To herald forth our creed divine;
And love so wrap our mortal frame,
Others may catch the living flame.
O, HOLY FATHER, HOLY SON,
And HOLY SPIRIT, Three in One,
Thy grace devoutly we implore,
Thy name be praised for evermore.
WHEN GOD of old came down from heaven,
In power and wrath He came ;
Before His feet the clouds were riven,
Half darkness and half flame.
Around the trembling mountain's base
The prostrate people lay;
A day of wrath, and not of grace,
A dim and dreadful day.
But when He came the second time,
He came in power and love,
Softer than gale at morning prime
Hover'd His holy Dove.
The fires that rushed on Sinai down
In sudden torrents dread,
Now gently light, a glorious crown,
On every sainted head.
Come LORD, come Wisdom, Love, and Power,
Open our ears to hear;
Let us not miss the accepted hour,
Save, LORD, by love or fear.
CREATOR SPIRIT, by Whose aid
The world's foundations first were laid,
Come, visit every faithful mind,
And pour Thy joys on all mankind.
Thrice holy Fount! thrice holy Fire!
Our hearts and heavenly love inspire;
From sin and sorrow set us free,
And make us temples worthy Thee.
Thou source of grace, descend from high,
In all Thy sevenfold energy;
Lighten our souls, that we may see
The FATHER, and the Son, by Thee.
|