Maiden, Yet A Mother

Hope, It's Living Fountain

Maiden, Yet A Mother is a translation of a poem by Durante (Dante) degli Alighieri (c.1265–1321). It is based upon the opening verses of Canto 33 of the Paradiso from his Divine Comedy in which St. Bernard of Clairvaux, (1090–1153) praises and prays to the Virgin Mother on behalf of Dante. It was translated from the original Italian into English by the Catholic convert, Monseigneur Ronald A. Knox (1888-1957). Common settings of his text are to the tunes: Grace Soit Rendue and Une Vaine Crainte. A MP3 sample of Une Vaine Crainte can be found in the Adoremus Hymnal (#540). In the Divine Office, Maiden, Yet A Mother is used with Morning and Evening Prayer.

O Sacred Heart

Our Trust Is All In Thee

O Sacred Heart was written Fr. Francis Stanfield (1835-1914). He is also the author of Sweet Sacrament Divine. During the 1880's Fr. Stanfield was Parish Priest at the 'Actor's Church', Corpus Christi in London's West End. It was the first Catholic Church dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament after the Reformation and had only recently opened a sanctuary dedicated to it's Adoration before Fr. Stanfield had been posted there. It is in this same time period that O Sacred Heart first appeared in hymnals. In the following video is set to a tune composed by Sir Richard R. Terry (1865-1938). In the Divine Office it is used on the Feast of the Sacred Heart and with Morning and Evening Prayer.



O SACRED HEART by Francis Stanfield (Public Domain)

1. O Sacred Heart, our home lies deep in thee;
on earth thou art an exile’s rest,
in heav’n the glory of the blest,
O Sacred Heart.

2. O Sacred Heart, thou fount of contrite tears;
where’er those living waters flow,
new life to sinners they bestow,
O Sacred Heart.

3. O Sacred Heart, our trust is all in thee,
For though earth’s night be dark and drear,
thou breathest rest where thou art near,
O Sacred Heart.

4. O Sacred Heart, when shades of death shall fall,
receive us ‘neath thy gentle care,
and save us from the tempter’s snare,
O Sacred Heart.

5. O Sacred Heart, lead exiled children home,
where we may ever rest near thee,
in peace and joy eternally,
O Sacred Heart.

Love of the Father, Love of the Son

In Whom Was All Begun

Love of the Father, Love of God the Son is a translation of an anonymous 12th century Latin poem, Amor, Patris et Filii, Veri Splendor. Manuscripts of the poem have been uncovered in a various locations including one originating from Thame Ab­bey, a Cistercian abbey in Oxfordshire, UK that was dissolved in 1539. In 1899 it was translated into English by poet and playwright, Ro­bert S. Bridg­es (1844-1930). His words are set to the tune: Song 22, composed in 1623 by the English composer Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625). An example of the melody can be heard in the following video at the 3:35 min mark. In the Divine Office, Love of the Father, Love of the Son is used with Morning and Evening Prayer.


Tune: Song 22 (starts at the 3:35 min mark)

LOVE OF THE FATHER, LOVE OF THE SON by Ro­bert Bridg­es, 1899 (Public Domain)

1. Love of the Father, Love of God the Son,
from whom all came, in whom was all begun;
who formest heavenly beauty out of strife,
creation's whole desire and breath of life:

2. Thou the All-holy, thou supreme in might,
thou dost give peace, thy presence maketh right;
thou with thy favor all things dost enfold,
with thine all-kindness free from harm wilt hold.

3. Hope of all comfort, splendor of all aid,
that dost not fail nor leave the heart afraid:
to all that cry thou dost all help accord,
the angels' armor and the saints' reward.

4. Purest and highest, wisest and most just,
there is no truth save only in thy trust;
thou dost the mind from earthly dreams recall,
and bring, through Christ, to him for whom are all.

5. Eternal Glory, all men thee adore,
who art and shalt be worshiped evermore:
us whom thou madest, comfort with thy might,
and lead us to enjoy thy heavenly light.