............................................................................................................................................................
(Jesu dulcis
memoria)
Written by : Bernard of Clairvaux
Translated from Latin to English by : Edward Caswall
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lyrics
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Thy blest name,
O Savior of mankind!
O
hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But
what to those who find? Ah, this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus,
our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.
As Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.
O
Jesus, King most wonderful
Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou sweetness most ineffable
In whom all joys are found!
Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou sweetness most ineffable
In whom all joys are found!
When
once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart,
Then kindles love divine.
Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart,
Then kindles love divine.
O
Jesus, light of all below,
Thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
And all we can desire.
Thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
And all we can desire.
Jesus,
may all confess Thy name,
Thy wondrous love adore,
And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame
To seek Thee more and more.
Thy wondrous love adore,
And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame
To seek Thee more and more.
Thee, Jesus, may our voices
bless,
Thee may we love alone,
And ever in our lives express
The image of Thine own.
Thee may we love alone,
And ever in our lives express
The image of Thine own.
O
Jesus, Thou the beauty art
Of angel worlds above;
Thy name is music to the heart,
Inflaming it with love.
Of angel worlds above;
Thy name is music to the heart,
Inflaming it with love.
Celestial
sweetness unalloyed,
Who eat Thee hunger still;
Who drink of Thee still feel a void
Which only Thou canst fill.
Who eat Thee hunger still;
Who drink of Thee still feel a void
Which only Thou canst fill.
O
most sweet Jesus, hear the sighs
Which unto Thee we send;
To Thee our inmost spirit cries;
To Thee our prayers ascend.
Which unto Thee we send;
To Thee our inmost spirit cries;
To Thee our prayers ascend.
Abide
with us, and let Thy light
Shine, Lord, on every heart;
Dispel the darkness of our night;
And joy to all impart.
Shine, Lord, on every heart;
Dispel the darkness of our night;
And joy to all impart.
Jesus,
our love and joy to Thee,
The virgin’s holy Son,
All might and praise and glory be,
While endless ages run.
The virgin’s holy Son,
All might and praise and glory be,
While endless ages run.
Bernard was a monk and founder of monasteries. He was one if the
most illustrious preachers of the Middle Ages. He was born in 1091 at
Fontaines, near Dijon in Burgundy, France.
Bernard’s father, a knight, was named Tecelin. His mother’s name
was Aletta who was a nobility from the house of Mon-bar.
Bernard lost both his parents. His father was killed battling in
the Crusades and his mother died while he was just a boy. She wanted him to be
trained for God and since he was not physically fit to bear arms, Bernard
decided to become a monk. This decision met with opposition from his close
relatives.
Bernard and twelve other monks were chosen to build a monastery
in an area “haunted by robbers.” While working, the monks would sing praises to
God. The area became known as “Clair Vaux” or the “Bright Valley. ”
Bernard was one of the most influential men of the day because
of his great piety, eloquence and learning. His life was greatly influenced by
the Scriptures. “He was saturated in its language and in its spirit—and it
saved him from the grosser aberrations of medieval Catholicism” (Britannica).
In his letters and sermons he seldom mentions the saints or the “lady”. To him
the most important thing was the grace of God and the splendor of Christ.
In this hymn we see the preciousness of Christ:-
“Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills my breast,
But sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest. ”
Martin Luther held him in high esteem saying “He was the
greatest monk that ever lived. ”
It has been said that his heart overflowed with love to Christ
and this was a result of his enjoyment of Christ
and God’s grace was able to lift him above the contradictions of
the age. Bernard died in 1153 at the age of 62.
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