Sequence 71. St. Giles

September ist,
LET us joy with exultation,
And, exulting, celebration
Make to-day of Giles's rites,
Who, o'er things of earth victorious,
Seeks those joys of all most glorious,
And a crown in heavenly heights !

He, for piety most noted,
Full of holiness devoted,
Scion of a regal race.

Soon to be God's holy temple,
And earth's very bright example,
Was begotten of God's grace.

In his youth's first early flower,
What in riper age his power
Would be, he, through grace, foreshowed ; r
Clothing to a beggar giving,
Medicine too, his health reviving.

He on him, long sick, bestowed.
2o6 S. GIDIUS.

Hinc, post mortem genitorum,
Plenus laude meritorum,
When his parents died, o'erflowing
With the praise due to well-doing,
Selling all, with open hand
Needy strangers he endoweth,
And, himself a pauper, goeth,
Exiled, from his native land.

Sailors, tempest-tost and wearied,
To the port they seek are carried.

Rescued by his earnest prayer :
To a widow he restoreth
Whole her child, while she imploreth
A physician in despair.

Barrenness away is chased,
By fertility replaced.

And a plenteous harvest comes :
Sick men with new health are filled,
Dire diseases thence expelled,
Causing joy in mournful homes.

To a bare and barren waste.
Sore athirst, he then made haste,
To escape from man's abode.

Christ Himself was present there, —
Since but scanty was the fare, —
To provide His servant's food ;
2o8 S. yEG/D/US.

Lest of hunger he should die,
A wild animal drew nigh
To sustain the man of God.

Hidden thus he fain would be,
But the royal family
Of his place of hiding hear :
Through his nurse discovered, there
At the monarch's earnest prayer
He a monastery near, —
Where he many a warrior bold.

In the cause of Christ enrolled,
By his side encamped, — doth rear.

Through this monarch's prayer, whoever
Prays to Giles devoutly never, —
France is witness, — prays in vain ;
For, when for the king he prayeth
On whose mind a dark deed weigheth,
He his pardon doth obtain.

To receive those laurels soon
By his earthly triumphs won,
Hath this saint to heaven gone,
Whom the host about God's throne
To those mansions, where alone
Peace and glory are, led on.

Giles's feast then venerate we,
Venerating, consecrate we
In perpetual memory !

Humbly now let us entreat him,
And, entreating, supplicate him,
That true joys our portion be.

Where in bliss that endeth never
We may Alleluias ever
With the Saints sing joyfully ! Amen.

212 S. yEGIDIUS.