How Great the Tale

Nave of Boyle Abbey, Co. Roscommon, Ireland - Courtesy of Wikipedia

How Great the Tale is a translation by the Gaelic scholar and writer, El­ea­nor H. Hull (1860-1935) of a poem by Donough O'Daly (d.1244). Also referred to as Donnchadh Mór Ó Dálaigh, he came from a family of celebrated Irish poets, and is thought by some historians to have been the Abbot of Boyle Abbey, where he is believed to be buried. In the Divine Office (1974), How Great the Tale is one of the hymns selected for use with the Office of Readings. The recommended musical setting is the tune: Munster. An alternative tune that can also be used is the Old Hundredth, as featured in the following video.


Alternative Tune: Old 100th

It Were My Soul's Desire

From Earthly Cares to Rise

It Were My Soul's Desire is a translation by the Gaelic scholar and writer, El­ea­nor H. Hull (1860-1935) of an anonymous 11th century Irish poem. The recommended tune in the Divine Office is Maria Jung und Zart, first published in the Geistliche Catholische Kirchengesäng of 1623. Two alternative tunes that it can also be sung to are: Quam Dilecta and St. Cecilia, as featured in the following videos. In the Divine Office, It Were My Soul's Desire is sung with Morning Prayer.


Tune: Quam Dilecta

It Were My Soul's Desire translated by Eleanor Hull (Public Domain)

1. It were my soul's desire
To see the face of God;
It were my soul's desire
To rest in His abode.

 2. It were my soul's desire
 To study zealously;
 This, too, my soul's desire,
 A clear rule set for me.

 3. It were my soul's desire
 A spirit free from gloom;
 It were my soul's desire
 New life beyond the Doom.

 4. It were my soul's desire
 To shun the chills of Hell;
 Yet more my soul's desire
 Within His house to dwell.

 5. It were my soul's desire
 To imitate my King,
 It were my soul's desire
 His ceaseless praise to sing. 

6. It were my soul's desire
 When heaven's gate is won
 To find my soul's desire
 Clear shining like the sun.

 7. Grant, Lord, my soul's desire,
 Deep waves of cleansing sighs;
 Grant, Lord, my soul's desire
 From earthly cares to rise.

 8. This still my soul's desire
 Whatever life afford,
 To gain my soul's desire
 And see Thy face, O Lord.

Tune: St. Cecilia

Be Thou My Vision

O Lord of My Heart

Be Thou my Vision is a translation of the 6th century Gaelic hymn, Rop tú mo baile at­trib­ut­ed to the Irish monk and poet, St. Dallán Forgaill (c.530–598). It is said that he composed it as a tribute to St. Patrick's unwavering faith in God. Down through the centuries the poem has become part of Irish monastic tradition. In 1905, an 8th century manuscript was translated into English by the Irish lin­guist, Ma­ry E. Byrne (1880-1931). In 1912, the writer and Gaelic scholar, El­ea­nor H. Hull (1860-1935) adapted Byrne's translation into verse. In 1919, Hull's verses were paired in the Irish Church Hymnal with the Irish folk tune: Slane, which it is associated with today. In the Divine Office, Be Thou My Vision is used with the Office of Readings.



BE THOU MY VISION by Elea­nor Hull, 1912 (Public Domain)

1. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

2. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3. Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

4. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

5. High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.