My New Favourite Hymn
We sang it last Sunday for the external solemnity of Corpus Christi. The tune used was that for "The Church's One Foundation" but it fits a few others. Something from the good old Anglo-Catholic repertoire, guaranteed to annoy everyone in the parish who wasn't one.
There was a time in England
A time of faith and love,
When men believed that Jesus
Came down from heav'n above;
Came down, and on his altar,
In Consecrated Host,
Vouchsafed to all who sought Him
Love to the uttermost.
The multitudes pressed round Him,
And thronged His holy seat,
Only to touch his garment,
Only to kiss-his feet;
And from Him went forth virtue,
And healing powers, and grace;
They knew his loving presence,
Who might not see his face.
Then came the unbelievers,
They wrecked the House of God,
The Sacrament of Jesus
Beneath their feet they trod;
Tore down the sacred altar,
Defiled his holy shrine;
Cast out the mystic presence
Of Jesus, Lord Divine.
But as for us, to Jesus
In faith and hope we turn,
Again would see the sacred
Lamp before altar burn,
The lamp that speaks of Jesus,
Our Master and Our Lord,
Who dwells upon his altar
By angel hosts adored.
O deep be our repentance,
Accepted may it be:
And so from sin and evil,
Shall we at length be free;
Then may we hope for pardon
From God who reigns above
And hope shall make us sharers
In Jesu's perfect love.
O Mary, God's own Mother,
Pray for our native land;
And ye, O Saints and Angels,
Around the throne who stand;
Pray for our darkened country,
That faith may live again,
That Jesus in His Sacrament
Once more supreme may reign!
