Life of God, poured out like water on the barren hearts of men: Flood divine, like flood of Noah, sent to purge the world of sin: I am drowned in Thee, but drowning board the Ark prepared for me: In Thy emptying, my fullness, -- Empty, I am filled by Thee.
Rock of Ages in the Desert, I have come to drink of Thee: though I strike Thee in my anger, Thou provid'st abundantly: with each wound the flow but deepens, with each sin, Thy mercy grows. Who can strike Thee and still hate Thee? For Thy friends, Thou tak'st Thy foes.
Weak and foolish, I opposed Thee, weak and helpless Thou became: From Thy Heart fresh strength is flowing for weak souls who call Thy Name: Jesus, save me, for I perish, Jesus, spare this life of mine: Heart of Jesus, meek and humble, Make my heart like unto Thine.
By Thy mercy, make me humble, Melt my heart with love unearned: Let me not forget Thy graces, freely giv'n and coldly spurned. Let me not despise my neighbour, though his sins to heaven cry: Louder cry my sins, now pardoned, "There but for God's grace go I!"
Grace of God, O Love past telling, sweet refreshment, cleansing tide: Hope of hopeless, Love of loveless, Life of meekness, death of pride: Love of Father, Son, and Spirit, burning Fire, healing Flood: Hidden life in Him, Whose Heart still yearns to shed His Precious Blood.
Were Thy Passion insufficient, For Thy Blood to save all men, Thou wouldst gladly die another, Thou wouldst shed Thy Blood again: Thou wouldst from ten thousand mangers go once more to heal and teach: Hang ten thousand heads in sorrow, not for all men, but for each.
You may give the text attribution to Sean Connolly (me), if you wish, but if you wish to use it uncredited, I'm fine with that, too.
If you'd like to make an arrangement, go for it!
I like my American hymn tunes: I had BEACH SPRING and PLEADING SAVIOUR in mind (In that order) when I was writing it. You may use whatever you like, however!
In the penultimate stanza, the sixth line "burning Fire, healing Flood:" seems to be missing a syllable (there should be seven, not six). One solution would be to allocate "Fire" to two syllables (although "Fi-re" may be deprecated by some). An alternate solution might be to insert "and" before "healing", making the line read "burning Fire, and healing Flood:" ... or does anyone have yet another workaround?
I can't think of the name of the tune, but we sing Daily, Daily sing to Mary to a tune which would clearly work for this. It might even have the added bonus of being immediately adopted because of being well-known.
Just sang it in my head to PLEADING SAVIOUR...but proceeded to fail with trying on other hymn tunes. That said, Griffen's is rather fitting, so with permission...I may like to use it a few times myself.
I've told Anna this about her work, and now I must tell you about yours as well. (And I know that you would never let it go to your head, so I can say it.) Your poetry is beyond praise and should find a place in Catholic hymnals. Have you given this some thought, or presented your work for consideration? The whole Church should profit spiritually from both your and Anna's gifts - and is poorer without them.
I don't know of any Catholic hymnals currently in the submissions stage, unless the Saint Michael Hymnal is in a stage when they could add a hymn or two. But I think they are farther along than that. Others might know for sure.
The mainstream publishers in the US might not appreciate the use of words such as Thee and Thou; except for one instance I don't think that is essential for your rhyme, but it does seem to me to be an integral part of the excellent flavor of the piece.
I'd suggest submitting it to CanticaNOVA as a first step. A number of CMAA folks have published with them, and they have an openness to rich poetry, mystical theology, and older styles of expression.
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