TO MY PATRONS
By Lionel Johnson
Thy spear rent Christ, when dead for me He lay:My sin rends Christ, though never one save HePerfectly loves me, comforts me. Then pray,Longinus Saint! the Crucified, for me.Hard is the holy war, and hard the way:At rest with ancient victors would I be.O faith’s first glory from our England! pray,St. Alban! to the Lord of Hosts, for me.Fain would I watch with thee, till morning gray,Beneath the stars austere: so might I seeSunrise, and light, and joy, at last. Then pray,John Baptist Saint! unto the Christ, for me.Remembering God’s coronation day;Thorns for His crown; His throne, a Cross: to theeHeaven’s kingdom dearer was than earth’s. Then praySaint Louis! to the King of kings, for me.Thy love loved all things: thy love knew no stay,But drew the very wild beasts round thy knee.O lover of the least and lowest! pray,Saint Francis! to the Son of Man, for me.Bishop of souls in servitude astray,Who didst for holy service set them free:Use still thy discipline of love, and pray.Saint Charles! unto the world’s High Priest, for me.
Thy spear rent Christ, when dead for me He lay:My sin rends Christ, though never one save HePerfectly loves me, comforts me. Then pray,Longinus Saint! the Crucified, for me.Hard is the holy war, and hard the way:At rest with ancient victors would I be.O faith’s first glory from our England! pray,St. Alban! to the Lord of Hosts, for me.Fain would I watch with thee, till morning gray,Beneath the stars austere: so might I seeSunrise, and light, and joy, at last. Then pray,John Baptist Saint! unto the Christ, for me.Remembering God’s coronation day;Thorns for His crown; His throne, a Cross: to theeHeaven’s kingdom dearer was than earth’s. Then praySaint Louis! to the King of kings, for me.Thy love loved all things: thy love knew no stay,But drew the very wild beasts round thy knee.O lover of the least and lowest! pray,Saint Francis! to the Son of Man, for me.Bishop of souls in servitude astray,Who didst for holy service set them free:Use still thy discipline of love, and pray.Saint Charles! unto the world’s High Priest, for me.
Thy spear rent Christ, when dead for me He lay:My sin rends Christ, though never one save HePerfectly loves me, comforts me. Then pray,Longinus Saint! the Crucified, for me.
Thy spear rent Christ, when dead for me He lay:
My sin rends Christ, though never one save He
Perfectly loves me, comforts me. Then pray,
Longinus Saint! the Crucified, for me.
Hard is the holy war, and hard the way:At rest with ancient victors would I be.O faith’s first glory from our England! pray,St. Alban! to the Lord of Hosts, for me.
Hard is the holy war, and hard the way:
At rest with ancient victors would I be.
O faith’s first glory from our England! pray,
St. Alban! to the Lord of Hosts, for me.
Fain would I watch with thee, till morning gray,Beneath the stars austere: so might I seeSunrise, and light, and joy, at last. Then pray,John Baptist Saint! unto the Christ, for me.
Fain would I watch with thee, till morning gray,
Beneath the stars austere: so might I see
Sunrise, and light, and joy, at last. Then pray,
John Baptist Saint! unto the Christ, for me.
Remembering God’s coronation day;Thorns for His crown; His throne, a Cross: to theeHeaven’s kingdom dearer was than earth’s. Then praySaint Louis! to the King of kings, for me.
Remembering God’s coronation day;
Thorns for His crown; His throne, a Cross: to thee
Heaven’s kingdom dearer was than earth’s. Then pray
Saint Louis! to the King of kings, for me.
Thy love loved all things: thy love knew no stay,But drew the very wild beasts round thy knee.O lover of the least and lowest! pray,Saint Francis! to the Son of Man, for me.
Thy love loved all things: thy love knew no stay,
But drew the very wild beasts round thy knee.
O lover of the least and lowest! pray,
Saint Francis! to the Son of Man, for me.
Bishop of souls in servitude astray,Who didst for holy service set them free:Use still thy discipline of love, and pray.Saint Charles! unto the world’s High Priest, for me.
Bishop of souls in servitude astray,
Who didst for holy service set them free:
Use still thy discipline of love, and pray.
Saint Charles! unto the world’s High Priest, for me.