Sequence 66. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin

August 15TH.
VIRGIN, hail ! alone the fairest !

Mother, who our Saviour barest !
And the name of Sea-Star wearest,
Star that leadeth not astray !

On the sea of this life never
Let us suffer wreck, but ever
To thy Saviour, to deUver
Those who travel o'er it, pray.

Seethes the sea, the storm-blast bloweth.
Wild the billows' tumult groweth,
Speeds our bark, but, as it goeth.

By what crosses is it met !
Siren pleasures' wanton wooing,
Dragon, pirates, dogs, pursuing,
All these threaten death and ruin
To men well-nigh desperate.

Now deep down, now up to heaven,
Is our bark by fierce waves driven ;
Nods the mast, its full sail riven,
Till the seaman strives no more;
Fast away, such evils tasting,
Is our human life -breath wasting :
Save us, to destruction hasting,
Holy Mother ! we implore.

Sprinkled o'er wath heaven's dew-shower,
Still intact thy chasteness' flower,
A new flower by new power
Forth from thee on earth hath come.

Equal to the Sire in Godhead,
In thy Virgin frame secluded,
Was the Word for us embodied.

Hidden in thy sheltering womb.
Thou by Him wast pre-elected,
By Whom all things are directed.

Who thy maiden-mark protected,
When thy sacred womb He filled ;
Parent of our Saviour-brother !

Thou didst feel nor pain nor other
Sorrow, like to man's first mother,
When thou broughtest forth that Child.

Mary ! for thy merits wholly
Hast thou been uplifted solely,
O'er the choirs of angels holy,
To a lofty throne above :
Joy is to this day pertaining,
When the heavens thou art gaining ;
Then on us, below remaining,
Look thou with maternal love !

Holy root, that never diest !
Flower, vine, olive, that suppliest
Thine own power, and fructifiest
Without foreign graft or seed !

Sunbeams' light and heaven's bright glory ! —
' E'en the sun's self pales before thee ! —
To Thy Son commend our story,
And against strict justice plead.

There, before the King of heaven,
Think of this poor flock sore driven,
Which, transgressing God's law given,
Dares to look for clemency :
For that Judge, Whom love so graces,
Judge deserving endless praises,
'Spite our guilt our hopes high raises,
Crucified upon the tree.

Jesu, fruit of womb most holy !
'Mid the storms of this world's folly
Be our way, guide, leader, solely
To the realms of heaven above !

Seize the helm, our vessel steer Thou,
Off the threatening tempest clear Thou,
And our vessel onward bear Thou
To Thy pleasant port in love ! Amen.

I So 5. BARTOLOMUS.