No. 89
THE BLESSED VIRGIN
Mother of Christ
Nicola A. Montani
Not too slow (alla breve)
1.
Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
What shall I ask of thee?
I do not sigh for the wealth of earth,
For joys that fade and flee;
But, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
This do I long to see,
The bliss untold which thine arms enfold,
The treasure upon thy knee.
2.
Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
What shall I do for thee?
I love thy Son with my whole strength
My only King shall he be.
Yes, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
This I do ask of thee,
Of all that are dear or cherished here,
None shall be dear as He.
3.
Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
I toss on a stormy sea,
O lift thy child as beacon high
To the port where I fain would be,
Then, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
This do I ask of thee,
When the voyage is o'er, O stand on the shore
And show Him at last to me.
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No. 90
THE BLESSED VIRGIN
Raise your voices, vales and mountains
Causa nostra laetitiae
St. Alphonsus Liguori
Translated by Rev. E. Vaughan
William Schultes (1815-1879)
Arr. by N. A. M.
Joyfully (alla breve)
1.
Raise your voices, vales and mountains,
Flow'ry meadows, streams and fountains,
Praise, O praise the loveliest Maiden
The Creator ever made.
2.
Murm'ring brooks your tribute bringing,
Little birds with joyful singing,
Come with mirthful praises laden
To your Queen be homage paid.
3.
Like a sun with splendor glowing
Gleams thy heart with love o'erflowing,
Like the moon in starry heaven
Shines thy peerless purity.
4.
Like the rose and lily blooming,
Sweetly heav'n and earth perfuming
Stainless, spotless thou appearest:
Queenly beauty graces thee.
[Page 139]

No. 91
THE BLESSED VIRGIN
O Mother! most afflicted
Our Mother of Sorrows
Anonymous
Traditional Melody (1638)
Lento
1.
O Mother! Most afflicted,
Standing beneath that tree,
Where Jesus hangs rejected
On the hill of Calvary!
Refrain
O Mary! sweetest Mother,
We love to pity thee;
O! for the sake of Jesus
Let us thy children be.
2.
Thy heart is well-nigh breaking,
Thy Jesus thus to see,
Derided, wounded, dying,
In greatest agony.
3.
His livid Form is bleeding,
His Soul with sorrow wrung,
Whilst thou, afflicted Mother,
Shar'st the torments of thy Son.
4.
O Mary! Queen of Martyrs,
The sword had pierced thy heart,
Obtain for us of Jesus
In thy grief to bear apart.
5.
O dear and loving Mother!
Entreat that we may be
Near thee and thy dear Jesus
Now and eternally
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No. 92
SAINTS, St. Joseph
O blessed Saint Joseph
The Patronage of St. Joseph
Father Faber
Melody from the Trier Gesangbuch (1872)
Moderato
1.
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?
2.
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!
3.
When the treasures of God where unsheltered on earth,
Safe keeping was found them both in thy worth;
O father of Jesus, be father to me,
Sweet spouse of our Lady! And I will love thee.
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No. 93
SAINTS, St. Joseph
Great Saint Joseph! Son of David
Du aus David's
Translated by Bishop Casartelli from a Slovak Hymnal
Arr. by N. A. M.
Con Spirito
1.
Great Saint Joseph! Son of David,
Foster father of our Lord,
Spouse of Mary ever Virgin,
Keeping o'er them watch and ward!
In the stable thou didst guard them
With a father's loving care;
Thou by God's command didst save them
From the cruel Herod's snare.
2.
Three long days in grief and anguish
With His Mother sweet and mild,
Mary Virgin, didst thou wander
Seeking the beloved Child.
In the temple thou didst find Him:
Oh! What joy then filled thy heart!
In thy sorrows, in thy gladness
Grant us, Joseph, to have a part.
3.
Clasped in Jesus' arms and Mary's,
When death gently came at last,
Thy pure spirit sweetly sighing
From its earthly dwelling passed.
Dear Saint Joseph! By that passing
May our death be like to thine;
And with Jesus, Mary, Joseph,
May our souls forever shine.
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