The Divine Lamp

A Morning Hymn For Ascension Day
Aeterne Rex Altissime

Eternal King and Lord most high,
Redeemer robed in majesty,
Who didst the world and death o’ercome
And rise triumphant from the tomb;
Then to thine everlasting height
Wast lifted in a cloud of light,
Above the stars, through heaven’s cope,-
Thou art our light, our love, our hope.

Earth, sea and sky, the threefold frame
Bow down before thy sacred name,
The ranks of hell in terror see,
Feel thy stern power, and bend the knee,
Thy angel hosts behold and know
The changed estate of man below,
The flesh that sinned, made clean again,
And God as man take up his reign.

Be thou our lasting joy, O Lord,
Our love on earth, our high reward;
Kind Ruler of the world, inspire
Our longing souls with holy fire.
To thee we bow our hearts in prayer,
Lord, keep us from the tempter’s snare;
Lift up our souls with heavenly grace,
And fit us for thy dwelling-place.

So when thou comest in majesty,
Among the clouds, our judge to be,
We may be freed from guilt and pain
And our lost crown assume again.
Jesus to thee be glory meet,
Triumphant in thy heavenly seat,
Unto the Sire and Spirit praise
In equal meed through endless days.-Attributed to St Ambrose.

Vesper Hymn For Ascension Day
Jesu Nostra Redemptio

Jesus, our love, our Savior,
The joy of every heart,
Thou bringest light unto our night,
For light itself thou art.

What wealth of love o’ercame thee
That thou shouldst will to die
Upon the tree of Calvary
To save mankind thereby!

The night of sin is broken,
The power of hell o’erthrown,
The heavenly door made wide once more
By thee, most Holy One.

‘Twas heavenly love impelled thee
Thus to redeem our race,
And bless our sight with sweet light
That shineth from thy face.

Thou to the stars ascended
Hast banished fear, O Lord;
Be thine all praise, through endless days,
Be thou our sweet reward.

The Glory Of Christ
Quicumque Christum Quaeritis

O Thou who seek’st the Christ to find,
Uplift thine eyes on high;
For lo! to every humble mind
His glory fills the sky.

His mighty wonders there behold,
In boundless fields of light,
Sublime, eternal, and as old
As heaven and ancient night.

Here is the nation’s King indeed,
Here Israel’s mighty Lord,
To Araham promised and his seed,
Forevermore adored.

To him each prophet witnesseth,
By word and sign sincere;
Acknowledged by the Sire, who saith,
“Behold, believe and hear!”

To Jesus, who his light displays
To babes, all glory be,
To Sire and Spirit equal praise
For all eternity.

I am not worthy, Lord, mine eyes
To turn unto thy starry skies;
But bowed in sin, with moans and sighs,
I beg thee, hear me.

My duty left undone
Nor sought I crime or shame to shun,
My feet in sinful paths have run,
Sweet Christ, be near me.

O, fill my soul with grief sincere
For mine offenses; let the tear
Moisten my pillow; Father hear,
And grant Repentance.

For all my many crimes, O Lord,
The pains of hell were just reward;
But thou, O God, my cry regard,
And spare the sentence.

Redeemer, sole-begotten Son,
Father ans Spirit, three in one,
Thou art my hope; as ages run
Be thine all glory.

If in the balance thou should weigh
My crimes there were nor hope nor stay,
But Lord; thy clemency I pray,
To grace restore me.

Dear Jesus, I acknowledge thee,
Thou gavest thy life upon the tree;
Who takes from thy Divinity
Is a blasphemer.

All godless errors, proud or vain;
The false belief and murmuring strain
Insult thy love, thy law profane,
Gentile redeemer.

Sweet Lord, I love thy holy name;
I hear my mother Church proclaim
The Spirit, Sire and Son the same,
One God eternal.

Power, love and glory be to thee,
O high and holy Trinity;
Be ours the bliss thy face to see
In light supernal.  (St Hilary + A.D. 368.  id Coeli Clara)

Jesus thy memory divine
To every heart is heavenly wine;
But sweetness more than sweetest things
Thy presence in the bosom brings.

Such gladness ne’er hath poet sung,
Such joy ne’er pleasured ear or tongue,
To man no dream, so sweet e’er came,
Dear Son of God, as thy blest name.

True hope of all repenting hearts,
What tender joy thy love imparts!
Thou givest the seekers here below
Such bliss as only they can know.

O Lord, if we bet claim thy love,
Our souls are lighted from above,
And feel such wondrous happiness
As tongue or pen can ne’er express.

Be still our joy and stay, dear Lord,
Our guide, our hope, our sweet reward;
Let praise and love and glory be
Sung to thy name eternally. (St Bernard of Clairvaus + A.D. 1153. Jesu Dulcis Memoria)