Hymn to Jesus

It seemed to me a good time to post this hymn again. Christe eleison imas.


Jesus, Son of Mary,
David's heir, we praise thee.
King and High Priest, we acclaim thee:
Splendour of the heavens
As a tiny baby
Child divine of our dear Lady!
Earth doth stand
In thy hand
Past and future holding,
Love and grace enfolding.

Jesus, raised by Joseph,
Master of construction,
Artist and source of instruction.
Worker of great wonders,

To life raising Lazarus,
Bearer of our sins and sadness.
Nails and cross,
Blood and loss,
Sacrifice and mystery --
Masterpiece of mercy.

Jesus Christ, now risen,
In thy mercy listen
To our needs and each petition.
Show us how to serve thee
At this urgent hour.
How we need thy grace and power!
Earth still spins
Mired in sins.
People God-defying.
Innocents are crying.

Jesus, good Physician,
Heal thy Church we pray thee.
By thy Blood defend her daily.
Purify the nations.
Cleanse the ranks of shepherds.
Wash away all false endeavours.
Let us be
One with thee,
Will and purpose pleasing,
Heart and soul appealing.


Words: Copyright © 2002 Vincent Wm. Uher III.
Music: Tysk

Beautiful Saviour, Mightiest in Mercy

Many of my hymn-texts have begun as poems. I thought today I would give an example with a recent poem of mine that rather easily converted into the regular meter for an hymn. First I will give my poem, and then will follow the hymn version in 11.11.11.5. meter. And by the way, I do like my hymn version sung to Richard Dirksen's Decatur Place or David Hurd's Mighty Savior.


O Mightiest in Mercy

Beautiful Saviour, Mightiest in Mercy,
Light piercing darkness, Joy beyond all sorrow,
Wounded for healing, Dying for our saving,
.....................Sinless Victim and High Priest.

Son of the Father, Child of Mary Mother,
Just Joseph's dear boy, Cause of Great John's leaping,
Mary's Deliverer, Truest friend to Lazarus,
.....................True God from God, our High King.

All laud we bring now praising our Belovèd,
Christ Jesus, Saviour, Victor, and Redeemer
Judge of the Living, Judge of the departed,
.....................Come quickly, Jesus. Come.

© 2007 by Vincent Uher. All Rights Reserved.



The Hymn: Beautiful Saviour, Mightiest in Mercy

Beautiful Saviour, Mightiest in Mercy,
Light piercing darkness, Joy beyond all sorrow,
Wounded for healing, Dying for our saving,
.....................Victim and High Priest.

Son of the Father, Child of Mary Mother,
Just Joseph's dear boy, Cause of Great John's leaping,
Mary's Deliverer, Truest friend to Lazarus,
.....................True God, our High King.

All laud we bring now praising our Belovèd,
Christ Jesus, Saviour, Victor, and Redeemer
Judge of the Living, Judge of the departed,
.....................Come quickly, Jesus.

Words: © 2007 by Vincent Uher. All Rights Reserved.
Other Excellent Suggested tunes:
Iste Confessor
Oblation (which is Crueger's "Lobet den Herren" ),
Coelites Plaudant (Rouen)

Prayers of the Holy Name of Jesus

Prayers to the Most Holy Name

O sweet Name of Jesus, holy above all names in heaven and on earth, and to which every knee, both of men and of angels in heaven, on earth and in hell bends. Thou art the the way of the just, the glory of the saints, the hope of those in need, the balm of the sick, the love of the devout and the consolation of those that suffer.

O, Jesus be to me a help and a protector so that Thy Name may be blessed for all times…..

(Manualis Parvulorum XIII)

Thomas à Kempis

Prayer to the Holy Name - St. Alphonsus
O my Jesus, thou art the Saviour who hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me, I pray Thee to write Thy adorable name on my poor heart; so that having it always imprinted in my heart by love, I may also have it ever on my lips, by invoking it in all my necessities. If the devil tempts me, Thy name will give me strength to resist him; if I lose confidence, Thy name will animate me to hope; if I lose confidence, Thy name will animate me to hope; if I am in affliction, Thy name will comfort me, by reminding me of all Thou hast endured for me. If I find myself cold in Thy love, Thy name will inflame me by reminding me of the love Thou hast shown me. I have fallen into so many sins, because I did not call on Thee; from henceforth Thy name shall be my defense, my refuge, my hope, my only consolation, my only love. Thus do I hope to live, and so do I hope to die, having Thy name always on my lips.

The Incarnation, Birth and Infancy of Jesus Christ; or, The Mysteries of the Faith, St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Redemptorist Fathers, 1927.


Prayer to the Holy Name - St. Bernardine of Siena
O Jesus, Name full of glory, grace, love and strength! Thou art the refuge of those who repent, our banner of warfare in this life, the medicine of souls, the comfort of those who morn, the delight of those who believe, the light of those who preach the true faith, the wages of those who toil, the healing of the sick. To Thee our devotion aspires; by Thee our prayers are received; we delight in contemplating Thee. O Name of Jesus, Thou art the glory of all the saints for eternity. Amen.

St. Bernardine of Siena

Prayer Petition to the Holy Name of Jesus
O God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the Saviour of mankind, and Thou didst command His Name to be Jesus. I beg that a most ardent love of Thy Divine Son imprint that Name upon my heart; that it always be on my mind, and frequently on my lips; that it be my defense in temptation, my refuge in danger, and my consolation and strength in the hour of my death.


Holy Name Prayer of Contrition
Most Merciful Jesus, by that Precious Blood which Thou didst willingly shed for sinners, I beg Thee to wash away all my sinfulness and to look mercifully upon me, a poor and unworthy sinner, as I call upon Thy Holy Name. Mercifully grant me, through Thine adorable Name, which is the joy of heaven, the terror of hell, the consolation of the afflicted, the refuge of sinners and the strength of those who repent, the grace of eternal salvation through the holy Name of Jesus. I ask this in Thy Name, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen.

The Holy Name of Jesus

Bowing the Head at Hearing the Holy Name

The custom of bowing the head at the mention of His Name was formally written into law at the Second Council of Lyons, A.D. 1274, convened by Pope Gregory X:

"Those who assemble in church should extol with an act of special reverence that Name which is above every Name, than which no other under Heaven has been given to people, in which believers must be saved, the Name, that is, of Jesus Christ, Who will save His people from their sins. Each should fulfill in himself that which is written for all, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow; whenever that glorious Name is recalled, especially during the sacred Mysteries of the Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart, which he can do even by a bow of his head."

O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.

O Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.

Source: The Prayer Book by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954