(To St. Cecilia.)

1 LET the deep organ swell the lay,
In honour of this festive day;
Let the harmonious choirs proclaim
Cecilia's ever-blessed name.

2 Rome gave the virgin martyr birth,
Whose holy name hath filled the earth;
And from the early dawn of youth,
She fixed her heart on God and truth.

3 Then from the world's bewildering strife,
In peace she spent her holy life-
Teaching the organ to combine

With voice, to praise the Lamb divine.

4 Cecilia, with a two-fold crown
Adorned in heaven, we pray look down
Upon thy fervent votaries here,

And hearken to their humble prayer.

277. More fair than all the vernal flowers.

(St. Winifred.)

1 MORE fair than all the vernal 4 He straight the debt of ven

flowers

Embosom'd in the dales, St. Winifred in beauty bloom'd The rose of ancient Wales. 2 With every loveliest grace adorn'd,

The Lamb's unsullied Bride; Apart from all the world she dwelt,

Upon the mountain side. 3 Till Caradoc, with impious love,

Her fleeing steps pursued, And in her sacred maiden blood His cruel hands imbrued.

geance paid,

Ingulf'd in yawning flame;
But God a deed of wonder work'd

To her immortal fame.

5 For where the verdant turf receiv'd

The Martyr's sever'd head, A holy fountain upward gush'd, Of crystal vein'd with red. 6 Here miracles of might are wrought;

Here all diseases fly; Here see the blind, and speak the dumb,

Who but in faith draw nigh.

Assist us, glorious Winifred,

Dear Virgin, ever blest!

The passions of our hearts appease,
And lull each storm to rest.

279.

(St. Elizabeth.)

1 A REGAL throne, for Christ's dear sake,
Blest saint, thou didst despise;
Amid the angels, now in bliss,
Oh help us from the skies!

2 Give to our hearts the perfume sweet
Of loving word and deed:

So teaches us thy charity,
By fragrant roses hid.

3 O Charity divine, by thee

Above the stars we soar;

Praise to th' Eternal Godhead be
Henceforth for evermore.

First flow'ret of the desert wild.

(St. Rose of Lima.)

1 FIRST flow'ret of the desert wild,

Whose leaves the sweets of grace exhale,
We greet thee, Lima's sainted child-
Rose of America, all hail!

2 When first appeared the infant smile,
Beaming upon thy features meek,
It seemed as if there blushed the while
The rose-bud on thy virgin cheek.

3 And hence thy name, St. Rose, was given,
Not by thy earthly parents' choice;
But by the holy Queen of heaven,

Who bade thee in that name rejoice.

4 Once, too, amid thy rapturous prayer,

Thy heavenly Spouse himself came downMost sweetly breathing in thine ear,

"Rose of my heart, receive thy crown!"

5 And whilst amid his glories now

Thou seest him face to face, O deign,
St. Rose, to hear thy suppliants' vow,
That grace and glory we may gain.

1 FORTH comes the Standard of 4 Most royally empurpled o'er, How beautiful thy stem doth

the King;

A hail, thou mystery adored!
Hail, Cross! on which the life
Himself [stored.
Died, and by death our life re-
2 On which our Saviour's holy side,
Rent open with a cruel spear,
Of blood and water poured a stream,
To wash us from defilement
clear.
3 O sacred Wood! in thee fulfilled
Was holy David's truthful lay!
Which told the world that from a
Tree

The Lord should all the nations

281.

sway.

shine;

7 Salvation's spring, blest Trinity,

Be praise to Thee through earth and skies:
Thou through the Cross the victory

Dost give; oh, also give the prize!

Blest Spirits of light.

(Guardian Angels.)

Amen.

1 BLEST spirits of light! ye who have not forsaken
The children of earth, though fallen from bliss;
O still watch around us, our bosoms awaken
To thoughts of a world that is brighter than this.

Oh, kindly watch o'er us, oh, guard and protect us,
Sweet angels and guides to the mansions of bliss.

2 The lily of innocence fondly we'll cherish,
Averting whatever its blossoms may stain;
And oh, if 'tis fading and ready to perish,
Restore it, sweet angel, its beauty again.
Oh, kindly watch o'er us, &c.

3 Then pray for thy children, and guard and defend them,
And ask of our Father, thy Maker, that we

May faithfully serve Him-may love and adore Him
In heaven, sweet angel, united with thee.

Oh, kindly watch o'er us, &c.

4 Hail, holy mission, hail!

Sweet time of humble prayer; When rests the soul on God.

Freed from this dark world's care.

5 Hail, holy mission, hail!

Time of all others blest;
When in the loving soul

Jesus takes up His rest.

6 Hail, holy mission, hail!
Foretaste of joys above;
Oh, Jesus, make our hearts
Inflam'd with thy pure love.

Sweet Angel of Mercy.

(Guardian Angels.)

3 My Love is mine, and I am His;
In me He dwells, in Him I live;
Where could I taste a purer bliss?
What greater boon could Jesus give?

4 O royal banquet! heavenly feast;

O flowing Fount of life and grace! Where God the giver, man the guest, Meet and unite in sweet embrace.

5 Dear Jesus, now my heart is thine,
Oh, may it never from Thee fly;
My God, be Thou for ever mine,
And I Thine own eternally.

6 No more, O Satan, thee I fear!

O world, thy charms I now despise;
For Christ himself is with me here,
My joy, my life, my Paradise!