Hymns for Pro-Life Gatherings

Come Down, O Love Divine

Come down, O love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own
ardour glowing;
O comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy
flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its
heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round,
the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine
inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o'er its own shortcomings
weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of
human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till he become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit
makes his dwelling.

Trans: R.V. Littledale

Come, Holy Ghost

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come
from thy bright heavenly throne,
come, take possession of our souls,
and make them all thine own.

Thou who art called the Paraclete,
best gift of God above,
the living spring, the living fire,
sweet unction and true love.

Thou who art sev'nfold in thy grace,
finger of God's right hand;
his promise, teaching little ones
to speak and understand.

O guide our minds with thy blest light,
with love our hearts inflame;
and with thy strength, which ne'er decays,
confirm our mortal frame.

Far from us drive our deadly foe;
true peace unto us bring;
and through all perils lead us safe
beneath thy sacred wing.

Through thee may we the Father know,
through thee th'eternal Son,
and thee the Spirit of them both,
thrice-blessed Three in One.

All glory to the Father be,
with his co-equal Son:
the same to thee, great Paraclete,
while endless ages run.

Dear Husband Of Mary!

Dear husband of Mary!
Dear nurse of her Child!
Life's ways are full weary, the desert is wild;
bleak sands are all round us,
no home can we see;
sweet spouse of our Lady,
we lean upon thee.

For thou to the pilgrim art Father and guide,
and Jesus and Mary felt safe by thy side;
ah, blessed Saint Joseph,
how safe I should be,
sweet spouse of our Lady,
if thou wert with me!

O blessed Saint Joseph!
How great was thy worth,
the one chosen shadow of God upon earth,
the father of Jesus -- ah, then wilt thou be,
sweet spouse of our Lady,
a father to me?

When the treasures of God
were unsheltered on earth,
safe keeping was found
for them both in thy worth;
O father of Jesus, be father to me,
sweet spouse of our Lady,
and I will love thee.

F.W. Faber

Dear St. Joseph, Pure And Gentle

Dear St. Joseph, pure and gentle,
Guardian of the Saviour child,
Treading with the virgin mother,
Egypt's deserts rough and wild.

Hail, St. Joseph, spouse of Mary,
Blessed above all saints on high,
When the death shades round us gather,
Teach, oh, teach us how to die.

He who rested on thy bosom
Is by countless saints adored;
Prostrate angels in His presence
Sing hosannas to their Lord.

Hail, St. Joseph, ...

Now to thee no gift refusing,
Jesus stoops to hear thy prayer;
Then, dear saint, from thy fair dwelling,
Give to us a father's care.

Hail, St. Joseph, ...
p> Dear St. Joseph, kind and loving,
Stretch to us a helping hand;
Guide us through life's toils and sorrows,
Safely to the distant land.

Hail, St. Joseph, ...

Draw Nigh, And Take The Body Of Our Lord

Draw nigh, and take the body of our Lord;
And drink the holy blood for you outpoured;
Saved by that body, hallowed by that blood,
Whereby refreshed we render thanks to God.

Salvation's giver, Christ the only Son,
By that his cross and blood the victory won,
Offered was he for greatest and for least:
Himself the victim, and himself the priest.

Victims were offered by the law of old,
That, in a type, celestial mysteries told.
He, ransomer from death and light from shade,
Giveth his holy grace his saints to aid.

Approach ye then with faithful hearts sincere,
And take the safeguard of salvation here,
He that in this world rules his saints and shields,
To all believers life eternal yields.

With heav'nly bread makes them that hunger whole,
Gives living waters to the thirsty soul,
Alpha and Omega, to whom shall bow
All nations at the doom, is with us now.

Trans: J.M. Neale



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