Hymns of the Early Church / being translations from the poetry of the Latin church, arranged in the order of the Christian year

by John Brownlie

Monday Evening

JESU, DULCIS MEMORIA

Generally, and there seems little reason to doubt correctly, ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux. Born in 1091 at his father’s castle near Dijon in Burgundy; died, 1153. The monk of Citeaux, the first Abbot of Clairvaux, the Papal controversialist and the preacher of the Second Crusade, is better known in our day as the author of a hymn regarded by many as the sweetest and most Evangelical in mediæval hymnody. The poem from which the hymn is taken consists of nearly fifty quatrains on the name of Jesus, known as the Joyful Rhythm of St. Bernard. In the Roman Breviary three hymns are taken from the Rhythm, Jesu dulcis memoria, Jesu Rex Admirabilis, and Jesu decus angelicum.

I

O Jesus, when I think of Thee,

True gladness fills my heart;

But joy unspeakable ’twill be

To see Thee as Thou art.

II

O blessed name! No note more sweet,