61 JESU, NOSTRA REDEMPTIO
Probably of the seventh or eighth century. Found in three MSS. of the eleventh century in the British Museum Library; also in the old Roman, Sarum, York, and Aberdeen Breviaries. Chandler’s rendering of this fine hymn—“O Christ, our hope, our heart’s desire,” and which is to be found in most collections, is the hymn for Evensong on Ascension Day in that author’s “Hymns of the Primitive Church.”
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| Thou our Redeemer art, O Christ, Our heart’s desire, our fervent love; Creator of the worlds, Thou cam’st To wear our flesh, from heaven above. | | ’Twas love that brought Thee to our aid, To bear the burden of our woe, To bow the head in shameful death, And life, immortal life, bestow. | | Asunder burst the bands of hell, The captives hailed the glorious day; And by Thy mighty triumph crowned, Thou art at God’s right hand for aye. | | O may Thy mercy still abound, That, by the goodness of Thy grace, We daily o’er our sin may rise, And see the beauty of Thy face. | | Spring of our joy, be Thou, O Christ; Our great reward, hereafter be; And while the endless ages run, Our praises shall be all of Thee. | |