O Jesu, Lord, Most Mighty King

For The Weeks After Epiphany

Words: Jesu, Rex admirabilis, Cento from Hymn of St. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, Twelfth Century.

Translation:  Very Rev. Prior James A. Dominic Aylward, Order of Preachers, 1843-1850.

Source: Orby Shipley, Annus Sanctus: Hymns of the Church for the Ecclesiastical Year. Vol. 1. (London and New York: Burns and Oates, 1884), p. 46.

O Jesu, Lord, most mighty king 
	And conqueror divine, 
Sweetness unspeakable, for whom 
	Our souls unceasing pine. 

When thou art in my heart, the world 
	With its vain pomp decays ; 
Bright shines the truth, and love lights up 
	Its ready kindled blaze. 

Jesu, thou sweetness of all hearts, 
	Thou living spring of light, 
So far exceeding all desire, 
	All joys of sense or sight. 

Ah, sweetest Jesu, let me feel 
	The fulness of thy love ; 
Cleanse thou mine eyes to see thy face 
	In thy bright courts above. 

O Jesu, brighter than the sun, 
	Balm with all healing blest, 
Of all things sweet, of all things fair, 
	Thou sweetest, fairest, best.

Note from Shipley:

49. Jesu, rex admirabilis. Matins Hymn, for the Holy Name, from the Breviary. Cento from Hymn of St. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, Twelfth Century. O Jesu, Lord, most mighty king.  Very Rev. Prior James A. Dominic Aylward, Order of Preachers, 1843-1850. 45, 46.

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