Words: (1833-1890).
Music: Jesu, Jesu, Du Mein Hirt, , 1676.
God the Father, God the Son,
Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
Ever blessèd Three in One,
Hearken to our humble prayer:
Hear us when we call to Thee,
Spare us, Holy Trinity.
Hear us, Son of God, O hear!
We approach Thee for our dead;
Lead them, in the vale of fear,
Be Thy wings around them spread:
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
Child of Mary, who didst bear,
Mortal flesh, for man to die;
Child of sorrow, toil, and care,
Grant them rest eternally.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
Dweller in the vale of death,
Second Adam, source of life,
Wearer of the thorny wreath,
Victor in the deadly strife.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
Thou who didst let fall the tear
On the grave of Bethany;
Who at Nain did stay the bier
That lone mother’s tear to dry.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
Thou whose voice could wake the dead,
“Maid! I say to thee, arise!”
Who didst bow Thy dying hand
On the day of sacrifice.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
Thou who passedst through the gloom
Which enshrouds the vale of death,
Guide their footsteps through the tomb,
Shelter them Thine arms beneath.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
By Thy flesh with scourges torn,
By Thy suffering human soul,
By the crown of woven thorn,
By the mocking title-scroll.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
By the quiet rock-hewn cave,
Where Thy body slept so well,
When Thy Spirit, through the grave,
Entered to the realms of hell:
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
By Thy preaching of the Christ
To the souls in prison bound,
When was rolled away the mist
Which had hung their vision round.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
By the eternal sacrifice
Which Thou pleadest at the throne,
Only gift which can suffice,
For that gift is all Thine own.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
By the offering which we plead,
One with Thine in Heaven above,
By the Lamb whose five wounds bled,
To fill full our cup of love.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
In the fell and fearful day,
Day of fury and of ire,
When the earth shall melt away
In the thunder-blast of fire.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.
When to hear the doom are met
Saints and sinners, quick and dead,
And the great white throne is set,
And the books are open spread.
Lord of life and love, we pray,
Grant them mercy in that day.