Words: , 1871. Coles, Cur­ate at Wan­tage, used to have large con­fir­ma­tion class­es for young peo­ple, and it was for them that he wrote this hymn.

Music: Di­es Do­min­i­ca, , in the An­gli­can Hymn Book, 1871. Al­ter­nate tune:

  • St. Edith, , 1799, and , 1871

We pray Thee, heavenly Father, to hear us in Thy love,
And pour upon Thy children the unction from above;
That so in love abiding, from all defilement free,
We may in pureness offer our Eucharist to Thee.

Be Thou our Guide and Helper, O Jesu Christ, we pray;
So may we well approach Thee, if Thou wilt be the Way:
Thou, very Truth, hast promised to help us in our strife,
Food of the weary pilgrim, eternal Source of life.

And Thou, Creator Spirit, look on us, we are Thine;
Renew us in Thy graces, upon our darkness shine;
That, with Thy benediction, upon our souls outpoured,
We may receive in gladness the body of the Lord.

O Trinity of Persons! O Unity most high!
On Thee alone relying Thy servants would draw nigh;
Unworthy in our weakness, on Thee our hope is stayed,
And blest by Thy forgiveness we will not be afraid.