Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee

Proulx, Richard (1937–2010) Show Biography

Voicing:
Mixed Choir → SATB

Accompaniment:
Unaccompanied

Occasion:

Proper of Time → The Weeks in Ordinary Time → General Ordinary Time
Proper of Saints → The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) (November 2)
Masses for the Dead

Publication Information:
GIA Publications — G-2056 (1959)

Text Information:
Reference: Jesu dulcis memoria, Bernard of Clairvaux (1091–1153); Transl. Edward Caswall

Duration: 3:00
Lyrics:

Jesu, the very thought of thee,
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see,
And in thy presence rest.

No voice can sing,
Nor memory find
A sweeter sound than thy blest name,
O Savior of mankind.
	
O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
To those who fall how kind thou art;
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find?  Ah, this
No tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus!  What it is
None but his loved ones know.

Jesu, our only joy be thou,
As thou our prize wilt be;
Jesu, be thou our glory now
And through eternity.

Notes: SATB with divisi in all parts.
Submitted by: Brian Luckner Added: Mar 5, 2022