66. Saint Michael

Hail, bright Archangel! Prince of heaven!
Spirit divinely strong!
To whose rare merit hath been given
To head the angelic throng!

Thine the first worship was, when ^loom
Through heaven's thinned ranks did move,
Thus giving unto God the bloom
Of young creation's love.

Thy zeal, with holiest awe inspired,
All other zeals outran.
With love of Mary's honor fired,
And of the Word made Man.

For God to thee, O vision glad!
The Virgin-Mother showed.
And, in His lower nature clad,
The Eternal Word of God.

Then, worshipping the splendor sent,
From out those counsels dim,
In meekest adoration bent.
Thou sangst thy voiceless hymn:

And the stars answered to thy song.
The Morning Stars of heaven;
And His first praise the angelic throng
To their Queen's Son had given.

Zealot of Jesus! from thy sword
Fling drops of gleamy fire,
To make our worship of the Word
More keenly burn and higher.

Our vile world-frozen hearts bedew
With thy celestial flame,
And burn our spirits through and through
With zeal for Jesus' JS^ame.

O Trumpet-tongued! O Beautiful!
O Force of the Most High!
The blessed of the earth look dull
Beside thy majesty,

First servant of the Ineffable,
The first created eye,
That ever, proved and perfect, fell^
On the dread Trinity!

The strength, wherewith thy spirit dared
To love that Blissful Sight,
That mystery to thee first bared
After eternal night —

that strength, O Prince! is strength to us,
Comfort and dccjiest joy,
that our dear God is worshipped thus
Without our base alloy.

O Michael! worship Him this night,
The Father, Word, and Dove,
Renewing with strong act the might
Of thy first marvellous love.

Glory to Him, the Eternal Dove,
Whose boundless mercy fed
His glory from thine acts of love
With condescension dread.

Praise to the Three, whose love designed
Thee champion of the Lord,
Who first conceived thee in His mind,
And made thee with His Word.

A^Hio stooped from nothingness to raise
A life like thine so high.
Beauty and being that should praise
His love eternally!