Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee

Ratcliffe, Desmond (1917–2001)

Voicing:
Mixed Choir → Unison
Treble Choir → Unison
Men's Choir → Unison

Accompaniment:
Organ

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:
Novello — M.T.1333 (1954)

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

Lyrics:

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

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the 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
Nor 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: Unison choir of any kind (treble, men, mixed).
Submitted by: Brian Luckner Added: Mar 5, 2022 Last updated: Mar 5, 2022