A Hymn to Christ Jesus ; OR THE LOVING SOUL'S JUBILATION. Commonly ascribed to St. Bernard. DECADE I. Jesu! the very thought of Thee With sweetness fills my breast; But sweeter far thy face to see, And in thy presence rest! Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, Nor can the memory find, A sweeter sound than thy blest Name, O Saviour of mankind! Oh, hope of every contrite heart! Oh, joy of all the meek! To those who fall how kind Thou art! How good to those who seek! But what to those who find? Ah, this, Nor tongue nor pen can shew: The love of Jesus-what it is, None but his lov'd ones know. O Jesu! Light of all below! Thou Fount of life and fire! Surpassing all the joys we know, And all we can desire! Thee will I seek at home, abroad, Who every where art nigh; Thee in my bosom's cell, O Lord, As on my bed I lie ;With Mary, to thy tomb will haste Before the dawning skies, And all around with longing cast My soul's inquiring eyes; Beside thy grave will make my moan, And sob my heart away; Then at thy feet sink trembling down, And there adoring stay ;Nor from my tears and sighs refrain, Nor thy dear knees release, My Jesu, till from thee I gain Some blessed word of peace. O Jesu, King most wonderful! Thou Conqueror renown'd! Thou Sweetness most ineffable, In whom all joys are found! DECADE II. Stay with us, Lord, and with thy light Scatter the darkness of our Illume the soul's abyss; night, Grant me, while here on earth I stay, Thy love to feel and know; And fill the world with And when from hence I pass bliss. When once Thou visitest the heart, Then Truth begins to shine; Then earthly vanities depart; Then wakens love divine. Jesu! thy mercies are untold Through each returning day; Thy love exceeds a thousand fold Whatever we can say : That love which in thy Passion drain'd For us thy precious Blood, Whence with Redemption we have gain'd The vision of our God! May every heart confess thy Name, And ever Thee adore; And seeking Thee, itself inflame, To seek Thee more and more. May every soul thy love return, And strive to do thy will; And running in thine odours learn To love Thee better still. Thou, who hast lov'd me from the womb, Pure source of all my bliss, My only hope of life to come, My happiness in this! unal Celestial sweetness, loy'd! Who eat thee hunger still, Who drink of thee yet feel a void Which nought but thou can fill. Thrice happy he, who, loving thee, Doth thy true sweetness know ;All else becomes but vanity Thenceforth to him below! O Jesu! thou the beauty art Of Angel worlds above; Thy Name is music to the heart, Enchanting it with love. For thee I yearn, for thee I sigh When wilt thou come to me? And make me glad eternally, With the blest sight of Thee? O Jesu! Love unchangeable! For whom my soul doth pine! O Fruit of life celestial! O Sweetness all divine! O Kindness, infinite, supreme! My joy and true repose! O Depth of charity extreme, Which no abatement knows! 'Tis good that I my love should give, Save thee, to none beside; And dying, to myself should live, For Jesus crucified. O my sweet Jesu! hear the sighs Which unto thee I send; To thee mine inmost spirit cries, My being's hope and end! Thy presence with me I desire, Wherever I may be; This, Lord, is all that I require For my felicity. marrow run, And in my bosom heave. Oh, joy! oh, ecstasy of bliss! More felt than understood; What pleasure can compare with this To love the Son of God? O Jesu, spotless virgin flower! Our love and joy! to thee Thy kiss is bliss beyond com- Be praise, beatitude, and pare, A bliss for evermore: Oh, that thy visits were less rare! And not so quickly o'er! Our Father. Hail Mary. O thou in whom my love doth find Its rest and perfect end! O Jesu! Saviour of mankind, And their eternal Friend! Return, return, pure Light of light! To thy dread throne again; Go forth victorious from the fight, And in thy glory reign. Lead where thou wilt, I follow thee, And will not stay behind; For thou hast torn my heart from me, O Glory of our kind! Ye Heav'ns, your gates eter- O beauty, honour infinite Of our celestial home! O Fount of mercy! Light of Heaven! Our darkness cast away; And grant us all, through thee forgiven, To see the perfect Day! Hark! how the Heavens with praise o'erflow! Jesus makes glad the world O priceless gift of Blood! below, And gains us peace with In peace He reigns, that peace divine For mortal sense too high,That peace for which my soul doth pine, To which it longs to fly. Christ to his Father is return'd, And sits upon his throne: For Him my panting heart hath yearn'd, And after Him is gone. To Him praise, glory, without end, And adoration be; O Jesu, grant us to ascend, And reign in Heaven with thee! Our Father. Hail Mary. Thirty-three Aspirations IN HONOUR OF THE SAME NUMBER OF YEARS OF THE LIFE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, IN REFERENCE TO HIS PRINCIPAL TITLES AND ATTRIBUTES. Abridged from Holy Scripture. JESUS, TRUE GOD. O Jesus, very God of very God! be to me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me. O Jesus, Word of the eternal Father, who, last of all, has spoken to us by his Son! Oh, that I may hear what the Lord may speak in me! O Jesus, wisdom of the Father! give me to seek and to mind the things which are above, that I may taste how sweet the Lord is. JESUS, TRUE MAN. O Jesus, first-born among O Jesus, Son of man, made in JESUS, CREATOR. in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within my bowels. O Jesus, my maker! remember that thou hast made me as the clay. Oh, that I may be in thy house a vessel to honour, and not to dishonour! O O O Jesus, author of my life! Let my soul live to thee, for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. JESUS, OUR LORD. Jesus, my Lord and my God! I am thy servant; possess me thou, and none but thou. Jesus, my king! rule me, and I shall want nothing in the place of pasture where thou hast set me. O Jesus, my Father! True it is that I am not worthy to be called thy son, yet cast me not away from thy face. JESUS, TEACHER. O Jesus, who art come to us a teacher from God! Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge. O Jesus, master, who begannest to do and to teach! |