Sequence 35. St. Thomas of Canterbury

December 29TH.
JOY, O Sion ! and rejoice thou ;
With both vow and Hfted voice now,
With a holy joy be glad !

For Christ's sake, assassinated,
Is thy Thomas immolated,
A most precious victim made.

Primate, legate, though created.
He was ne'er with pride elated
By his honours' lofty height ;
Steward of the King of heaven,
He was into exile driven,
Since he for his flock would fight.

With the Spirit's sword girt round him,
Victory with full triumph crowned him.

As with pastoral spear he fought ; 1 5
For his God's law to be fighting,
For his flock's sake death inviting,
Ever was his chiefest thought.

p
Tunc rectore desolatam
ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY. 2ii
Losing then its guide and master,
And deprived thus of its pastor,
Canterbury deeply grieved ;
But then one, so justly noted,
Sens in France, with joy devoted.

And with glad acclaim received.
In his absence sore prostrated,
And, when prostrate, violated.

Was the Church no longer free ;
So from 'mongst us thou departedst,
Father ! but aside ne'er startedst
From the path of probity. 3°
Once, amid the courtier bevy,
Thou wast foremost of the levy
In the palace of the king ;
All the people approbation,
And the world loud acclamation,
As its wont is, offering.

Well-timed was thy transformation ;
For of thee thy consecration
By a blest reciprocation
Made a new man happily : A°
Thou thine opposition endedst.

As a wall, the Church defendedst,
And thyself to death commendedst,
WiUing thus for Christ to die.

Champion ! who this life disdainest !
Victory in the fight thou gainest,
And the joyful palm obtainest ;
Evidence of which the plainest
All thy wonders rare afford.

To the blind their sight thou givest,
And the lame man's powers revivest ;
Thou paralysis relievest,
And the old foe backward drivest,
And transgressions' filthy horde.

Gem of priesthood, princely Thomas !
By thy prayer effectual from us
Take our lusts, our flesh subdue ;
That, in Christ, the true Vine, rooted,
We may gain, thus constituted, 59
Life-joys both divine and true ! Amen.