Hymns to Our Lady
AS THE DEWY SHADES OF EVEN
VERSE 1
As the dewy shades of even,
Gather o’er the balmy air,
Listen, gentle Queen of heaven,
Listen to my vesper prayer.
VERSE 2
Holy Mother, hear me hover,
Free my thoughts from aught defiled;
With thy wings of mercy cover,
Keep from sin thy helpless child.
VERSE 3
Thine own sinless heart was broken,
Sorrow’s sword had pierced its care
Holy Mother! By that token,
Now thy pity I implore.
VERSE 4
Queen of sorrows, guard and guide me,
Let me to thine arms repair,
In thy tender bosom hide me;
Take me, Mother to thy care
AVE MARIA! O MAIDEN, O MOTHER
VERSE 1
Ave Maria! O Maiden, O Mother,
Proudly thy children are calling on thee;
Thine are the graces unclaimed by another,
Sinless and beautiful, star of the sea!
CHORUS
Mater amabilis, ora pro nobis,
Pray for thy children who call upon thee;
Ave sanctissima! Ave purrissima!
Sinless and beautiful, star of the sea.
VERSE 2
Ave Maria! The night shades are falling,
Softly our voices arise unto thee;
Earth’s lonely exiles for succour are calling,
Sinless and beautiful, star of the sea!
VERSE 3
Ave Maria! Thou portal of heaven,
Harbour of refuge, to thee do we flee;
Lost in the darkness, by stormy winds driven,
Shine on our pathway, fair star of the sea!
CHILDREN OF MARY
VERSE 1
Children of Mary, high your voices raise,
Ye on whom she casts her tender eyes,
Children of God, sing her immortal praise,
And all exalt her glory to the skies,
Children of Mary, high your voices raise,
Children of God, sing her immortal praise.
VERSE 2
I see ascending to her glorious throne
The fervent prayers of every faithful child,
Each heart erects an altar to her name
Where Mary lives in everlasting fame,
Children of Mary, high your voices raise,
Children of God, sing her immortal praise
DAILY, DAILY, SING TO MARY
VERSE 1
Daily, Daily, sing to Mary,
Sing, my soul, her praises due;
All her feasts, her actions worship,
With the heart’s devotion true.
Lost in wond’ring contemplation,
Be her majesty confessed:
Call her Mother, call her Virgin.
Happy Mother, Virgin blest,
VERSE 2
She is mighty to deliver:
Call her, trust her lovingly;
When the tempest rages round you,
She will calm the troubled sea.
Gifts of heaven she has given,
Noble Lady! To our race;
She, the Queen, who decks her subjects
With the light of God’s own grace.
VERSE 3
Sing, my tongue, the Virgin’s trophies,
Who for us her Maker bore,
For the curse of old inflicted,
Peace and blessing to restore.
Sing in songs of praise unending,
Sing the world’s majestic Queen:
Weary not nor faint in telling
All the gifts she gives to men.
VERSE 4
All my senses, heart, affections
Strive to sound her glory forth:
Spread abroad the sweet memorials
Of the Virgin’s priceless worth.
Where the voice of music thrilling,
Where the tongues of eloquence,
That can utter hymns beseeming
All her matchless excellence?
VERSE 5
All our joys do flow from Mary,
All of them join her praise to sing:
Trembling sing the Virgin Mother,
Mother of our Lord and King.
While we sing her awful glory,
Far above our fancy’s reach,
Let our hearts be quick to offer
Love the heart alone can teach
FADING STILL FADING
VERSE 1
Fading still fading the last beam is shining,
Ave Maria, the day is declining,
Safety and innocence fly with the light,
Temptation and danger walk forth in the night,
From fall of the shade to the bright
Morning time,
Shield us from danger and save us from crime.
Ave Maria, Ave Maria, Ave Maria, audi nos.
HAIL QUEEN OF HEAVEN
VERSE 1
Hail, Queen of heav’n the ocean star,
Guide of the wand’rer here below:
Thrown on life’s surge, we claim your care –
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, star of the sea,
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.
VERSE 2
O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through you
Remind your Son that he has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.
VERSE 3
Sojourners in this world of tears,
To you, blest advocate, we cry;
Pity our sorrows, calm our fears,
And soothe with hope our misery:
Refuge in grief, star of the sea,
Pray for the mourner, pray for me.
VERSE 4
And while to him who reigns above
In Godhead One, in Persons Three,
The source of life, of grace, of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee;
Do you, bright Queen, star of the sea,
Pray for your children, pray for me
HAIL QUEEN OF THE HEAVENS
VERSE 1
Hail Queen of the Heavens,
Hail Mistress of earth,
Hail Virgin most pure of immaculate birth,
Clear star of the morning in beauty enshrined,
O Mary make speed to the help of mankind,
Clear star of the morning in beauty enshrined,
O Mary make speed to the help of mankind.
VERSE 2
Hail Mother most pure, hail Virgin renown’d,
Hail Queen with the stars as diadem crown’d,
Above all the angels in glory untold,
Standing next to the King in a vesture of gold,
Above all the angels in glory untold,
Standing next to the King in a vesture of gold.
VERSE 3
O Mother of mercy, O Star of the sea,
O Hope of the guilty, O light of the grave,
Thro’ thee may we come to the Heaven of rest,
And see Heaven’s King
\n the courts of the Blest,
Thro’ thee may we come to the Heaven of rest,
And see Heaven’s King.
In the courts of the Blest
HAIL, THOU STAR OF OCEAN
VERSE 1
Hail, thou star of ocean,
Portal of the sky;
Ever Virgin Mother
Of the Lord most high.
Oh! By Gabriel’s Ave, Utter’d long ago,
Eva’s name reversing,
’Stablish peace below.
VERSE 2
Break the captive’s fetter:
Light on blindness pour;
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.
Show thyself a mother;
Offer him our sighs,
Who for us incarnate
Did not thee despise.
VERSE 3
Virgin of all virgins,
To thy shelter take us;
Gentlest of the gentle,
Chaste and gentle make us.
Still, as on we journey,
Help our weak endeavour;
Till with thee and Jesus
We rejoice forever.
VERSE 4
Through the highest heaven,
To the almighty Three,
Father, Son and Spirit,
One same glory be
HOLY QUEEN! WE BEND BEFORE THEE
VERSE 1
Holy Queen! We bend before thee,
Queen of purity divine!
Make us love thee, we implore thee;
Make us truly to be thine.
CHORUS
Teach, oh teach us Holy Mother;
How to conquer ev’ry sin;
How to love and help each other;
How the prize of life to win.
VERSE 2
Thou to whom a child was given,
Greater than the sons of men,
Coming down from highest heaven,
To create the world again.
VERSE 3
Oh by that almighty Maker,
Whom thyself a Virgin bore!
Oh by thy supreme Creator;
Link’d with Thee for evermore!
VERSE 4
By the hope thy name inspires,
Be our doom reversed through thee,
Help us, Queen of Angel-Choirs,
To a blest eternity!
I’LL SING A HYMN TO MARY
VERSE 1
I’ll sing a hymn to Mary,
The Mother of my God,
The Virgin of all virgins,
Of David’s royal blood,
O teach me, holy Mary,
A loving song to frame,
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
To love and bless thy name.
VERSE 2
O noble tower of David
Of gold and ivory
The ark of God’s own promise,
The gate of Heav’n to me,
To live and not to love thee,
Would fill my soul with shame;
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.
VERSE 3
The saints are high in glory,
With golden crowns so bright
But brighter far is Mary,
Upon her throne of light,
Oh, that which God did give thee,
Let mortal ne’er disclaim;
When wicked men blaspheme thee
I’ll love and bless thy name.
VERSE 4
But in the crown of Mary,
There lies a wondrous gem,
As Queen of all the angels,
Which Mary shares with them,
“No sin hath e’er defied thee,”
So doth our faith proclaim,
When wicked men blaspheme thee
I’ll love and bless thy name
IMMACULATE MARY
VERSE 1
Immaculate Mary!
Our hearts are on fire;
That title so wondrous
Fills all our desire.
CHORUS
Ave, ave, ave, Maria;
Ave, ave, ave, Maria.
VERSE 2
We pray for God’s glory,
May His Kingdom come;
We pray for His vicar,
Our Father and Rome.
VERSE 3
We pray for our Mother,
The Church upon earth;
And bless, sweetest Lady,
The Land of our birth.
VERSE 4
We pray for all sinners
And souls that now stray,
From Jesus and Mary
In heresy’s way.
VERSE 5
In grief and temptation,
In joy, or in pain,
We’ll seek thee, our Mother,
Nor seek thee in vain.
VERSE 6
O bless us, dear Lady,
With blessings from heaven,
And to our petitions
Let answer be given.
VERSE 7
Now to God be all glory,
And worship for aye,
And to God’s Virgin Mother
And endless Ave.
VERSE 8
Our homes and our country
We pray in thy keeping,
To love and to serve Thee
In gladness and weeping.
VERSE 9
We pray for the Church
In the hour of her mourning,
We pray for all sinners
Still deaf to Thy warning.
VERSE 10
We pray for the Vicar of Christ
On whom presses,
The weight of the world
And its cruel distresses.
VERSE 11
O Queen of the Rosary,
Be thou our salvation,
Our refuge in life,
And our true consolation
MARY, LET PERPETUAL SUCCOUR
VERSE 1
Mary, let Perpetual Succour,
Be the answer to our prayer;
For thy Son of all the wretched,
Gives to thee perpetual care.
CHORUS
Ever ready help hast thou,
Let thy children feel it now.
VERSE 2
Of our passions we are weary,
Weary of the yoke of sin;
Yet though longing to be holy,
Faint of heart, we ne’er begin.
VERSE 3
Though we try to rise, yet ever,
Down in misery we fall;
So like feeble children sadly,
For our Mother’s help we call.
VERSE 4
Let us feel thy help in sorrow,
Mourners look for joy to thee;
Spurn not God’s unhappy creatures,
Whatsoe’er their faults may be.
VERSE 5
Succour all, both Priests and people,
Who to thee their homage pay;
Toiling men and praying women,
Help them on thy festal day
O COME TO THE THRONE OF GRACE
VERSE 1
O come to the throne of grace,
O come to the heart most pure;
To Mary our hope of life,
In whom salvation is sure.
CHORUS
O Lady of Fatima, Hail
Immaculate Mother of grace;
O pray for us, help us to-day
Thou hope of the human race.
VERSE 2
Immaculate Heart we kneel
To consecrate all to thee;
The present, its pain and joy
The future, all it may be
O MAID CONCEIVED WITHOUT A STAIN
VERSE 1
O Maid conceived without a stain,
O Mother bright and fair,
Come thou within our hearts to reign
And grace shall triumph there.
CHORUS
Hail Mary ever undefiled!
Hail Queen of Purity!
O make thy children chaste and mild,
And turn their hearts to thee.
VERSE 2
O Mother of all mothers best
Who soothest every grief,
In thee the weary find their rest,
And anguished hearts relief
O PUREST OF CREATURES
VERSE 1
O purest of creatures,
Sweet Mother, sweet Maid;
The one spotless womb
Wherein Jesus was laid.
Dark night hath come down on us,
Mother, and we
Look out for thy shining,
Sweet Star of the sea.
VERSE 2
Deep night hath come down
On this rough-spoken world,
And the banners of darkness
Are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church,
All her eyes are on thee,
They look to thy shining
Sweet Star of the sea.
VERSE 3
He gazed on thy soul,
It was spotless and fair,
For the empire of sin,
It had never been there;
None ever had owned thee,
Dear Mother but He,
And He blest thy clear shining,
Sweet Star of the sea.
VERSE 4
Earth gave Him one lodging,
’Twas deep in thy breast,
And God found a home where
The sinner finds rest;
His home and his hiding-place
Both were in thee,
He was won by thy shining
Sweet Star of the sea.
VERSE 5
Oh blissful and calm
Was the wonderful rest,
That thou gavest thy God
In thy virginal breast;
For the heaven he left
He found heaven in thee,
And he shone in thy shining
Sweet Star of the seaO PUREST OF CREATURES
VERSE 1
O purest of creatures,
Sweet Mother, sweet Maid;
The one spotless womb
Wherein Jesus was laid.
Dark night hath come down on us,
Mother, and we
Look out for thy shining,
Sweet Star of the sea.
VERSE 2
Deep night hath come down
On this rough-spoken world,
And the banners of darkness
Are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church,
All her eyes are on thee,
They look to thy shining
Sweet Star of the sea.
VERSE 3
He gazed on thy soul,
It was spotless and fair,
For the empire of sin,
It had never been there;
None ever had owned thee,
Dear Mother but He,
And He blest thy clear shining,
Sweet Star of the sea.
VERSE 4
Earth gave Him one lodging,
’Twas deep in thy breast,
And God found a home where
The sinner finds rest;
His home and his hiding-place
Both were in thee,
He was won by thy shining
Sweet Star of the sea.
VERSE 5
Oh blissful and calm
Was the wonderful rest,
That thou gavest thy God
In thy virginal breast;
For the heaven he left
He found heaven in thee,
And he shone in thy shining
Sweet Star of the sea
QUEEN OF HEAVEN
VERSE 1
Queen of heaven, rejoice,
Alleluia!
VERSE 2
For the Lord whom you were worthy to bear,
Alleluia!
VERSE 3
Has risen as he said,
Alleluia!
VERSE 4
Pray for us to God,
Alleluia!
TO WIN MY HEART
VERSE 1
To win my heart with visions bright and fair,
In vain the world with all its craft has tried;
Harmless and weak its dazzling weapons are,
I nothing fear with Jesus at my side.
CHORUS
The Cherubim, the Cherubim,
And Seraphim, and Seraphim,
And heavenly hosts, that swell the glad refrain,
In that Mary land, that Mary land.
And mother Mary, Queen of heaven shall reign,
And mother Mary, Queen of heaven shall reign.
VERSE 2
Come, all ye proud ones of the earth,
Array your gathering hosts
Around me far and wide:
My heart is calm amid the loud affray,
I do not fear with Jesus at my side.
VERSE 3
Death hath for me no fear; its bitter pains
Shall never from my King my heart divide;
Faithful to him till death my will remains,
I do not fear with Jesus at my side.
VERSE 4
Though all the terrors of the last dread day,
With death and hell together were allied,
Though Heaven and earth before me fled away,
I do not fear with Jesus at my side.
VERSE 5
Jesus my Lord, my only hope and shield,
No power of ill before Thee can abide;
I trust in Thee upon the battle field,
I do not fear with Jesus at my side.
THE CANTICLE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN (MAGNIFICAT)
CHORUS
The Lord has done marvels for me,
Holy his name, Alleluia!
VERSE 1
My soul glorifies the Lord,
My Spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
VERSE 2
He looks on his servant in her nothingness;
Henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
VERSE 3
The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
VERSE 4
His mercy is from age to age,
On those who fear him.
VERSE 5
He puts forth his arm in strength
And scatters the proud hearted.
VERSE 6
He casts the mighty from their thrones
And raises the lowly.
VERSE 7
He fills the starving with good things,
Sends the rich away empty.
VERSE 8
He protects Israel, his servant,
Remembering his mercy.
VERSE 9
The mercy promised to our fathers,
For Abraham and his sons forever.
VERSE 10
Praise the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit,
Both now and forever, world without end
WE FLY TO THY PROTECTION
We fly to thy protection
We fly to thy patronage
O holy Mother of God
O holy Mother of God
Despise not our prayers
Despise not our prayers
In our necessities
But from all dangers deliver us
Oh ever glorious and Blessed Virgin
YOU ARE THE HONOUR
CHORUS
You are the honour,
You are the glory of our people,
Holy Virgin Mary.
VERSE 1
You are the glory of Jerusalem,
Holy Virgin Mary.
VERSE 2
You are the greatest joy of Israel,
Holy Virgin Mary.
VERSE 3
You are the highest honour of our race,
Holy Virgin Mary.
VERSE 4
May you be blessed by the Lord most high,
Holy Virgin Mary.
VERSE 5
Now, and for all ages without end,
Holy Virgin Mary.
VERSE 6
Give praise to God in the church, and Christ,
Holy Virgin Mary