St. Mathias (William H. Monk)

I.
1. O Saviour, bless us ere we go;
Thy word into our minds instill,
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow
With lowly love and fervent will.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.

2. The day is done, its hours have run;
And Thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall.
Through life's long day and death's dark night
O gentle Jesus, be our light.

3. Grant us, O Lord, from evil ways
True absolution and release;
And bless us, more than in past days,
With purity and inward peace.
Through life's long day and deaths dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.

4. Do more than pardon: give us joy,
Sweet fear and sober liberty,
And loving hearts without alloy,
That only long to be with Thee.

5. Labor is sweet for Thou hast toiled;
And care is light for Thou hast cared;
Ah never let our works be soiled
With self, or by deceit ensnared.

6. For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful, unto thee we call;
O let Thy mercy make us glad;
Thou art our Jesus and our all.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Through life's long day and death's dark night,
O gentle Jesus, be our light.
Amen.

II.
O Love, who formedst me to wear
The image of Thy Godhead here;
Who soughtest me with tender care
Thro’ all my wanderings wild and drear;
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.
O Love, who ere life’s earliest dawn,
On me Thy choice hast gently laid;
O Love, who here as Man wast born,
And wholly like to us wast made;
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.
O Love, who once in time wast slain,
Pierced through and through with bitter woe;
O Love, who wrestling thus didst gain
That we eternal joy might know;
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.
O Love, who once shalt bid me rise
From out this dying life of ours;
O Love, who once o’er yonder skies
Shalt set me in the fadeless bowers;
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.
Amen.

III.
Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord most dear,
as thou wast once an infant here,
so give this child of thine, we pray,
thy grace and blessing day by day.

Refrain:
O holy Jesus, Lord Divine,
we pray thee guard this child of thine.

As in thy heavenly kingdom, Lord,
all things obey thy sacred word,
do thou thy mighty succor give,
and shield this child by morn and eve.
Refrain

Their watch let angels round him keep
where'er he be, awake, asleep;
thy holy cross now let him bear,
that he crown with saints may wear.
Refrain