Sequence 25. On the Dedication of a Church

ET our choir now loudly join their Alleluia's
brightest strains,
LThe eternal Monarch praising, who o'er all creation
reigns !

Unto Him the universal Church uniteth us in love,
Like a shining ladder reaching to the heights of
heaven above.

To His honour psalms of gladness we in tuneful
strains upraise,
Paying thus the proper tribute to Him of our daily
praise.

O hall of bliss ! where, in due order,
Troops of angels gather continually ;
And with divine words, alternating.

Join sweet strains of ravishing melody ! lo
'Tis the home of which the former Testament did
sound the praise,
And of which the New declareth that 'tis Christ
Himself that says :
"Seeing I have chosen this to be my throne of
purity,
Henceforth through undying ages here my resting-
place shall be ! "
Tower ! on a Mount erected,
And with cement that melteth not upon it founded,
By perennial walls protected,
And with pillared gold surrounded,
Of divers jewels, polished with fine skill, com-
pounded,
For their rarity selected !

Elect Mother ! hail ! whom, blessing,
Christ is in these words addressing
Of impassioned prophecy :
" Rise, my lovely spouse ! the fairest
'Mongst earth's daughters thou appearest,
Brighter than the sun on high !

" Lo ! thy head is like Mount Carmel,
And the flowing locks upon it, as with regal purple,
red :
Doves' eyes do thine eyes resemble ;
Like a piece of a pomegranate are the temples of
thine head.

"Like a column is thy neck and like an ivory
tower's walls;
Milk and honey 'neath thy tongue, thy lips a
comb whence honey falls."

Therefore still with us, the servants
Of Thy spouse, O Christ ! we pray Thee, in Thy
never-failing love
Kindly deign Thou to be present :
Everywhere with Thy salvation visit us from heaven
above !

Through her mediation also, King Most High !
perpetually
We implore Thee
Loudly, that with alleluias we 'midst joys of
Paradise
May adore Thee !