Hail, Flowerets of the Martyr-train
For The
Holy Innocents
(December 28)
Words: Henry Nutcombe Oxenham
Source: Henry Nutcombe Oxenham, The Sentence of Kaļres and Other Poems. Second Edition. (London: Longmans Green and Co., 1867), Number V.
See: Hymns to The Holy Innocents
V.
The Holy Innocents.
(Salvete flores martyrum.)
Hail, flowerets of the martyr-train,
Hail, in life's early morn
By Christ's rude foe untimely slain,
Like roses by the whirlwind torn.
First victims for your Lord to die,
First nurslings of His fold,
Beneath the shrine all guilelessly,
The martyr's palm and wreath ye hold.
Hail, Jesus, Virgin-born, to Thee
All glory be addrest,
High laud through all eternity
To Father and to Spirit Blest.
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