Spouse of Christ, in Arms Contending

Spouse of Christ

in arms con­tend­ing

O’er each clime be­neath the sun

Blend with pray­ers for help as­cend­ing

Notes of praise for tri­umphs won.

As the Church to­day re­joic­es

All her saints to join on high

So from earth let all our voic­es

Rise in so­lemn har­mo­ny.

First amid the laur­eled le­gions

Prays the mo­ther to her Son

Close to Christ in those fair re­gions

Where high praise to Him is done.

Angels next

in due gra­da­tion

Of the Spir­it’s min­is­try

Hymn the Fa­ther of cre­ation

Maker of the stars on high.

John

the her­ald voice so­no­rous

Head of the pro­phet­ic throng

Patriarchs

and seers in chor­us

Join to swell the an­gels’ song.

Near to Christ th’Apos­tles seat­ed

Trampling on the pow­ers of hell

By the pro­mise now comp­let­ed

Judge the tribes of Is­ra­el.

They who nob­ly died be­liev­ing

Martyrs pur­pled in their gore

Crowns of life by death re­ceiv­ing

Rest in joy for­ev­er­more.

Priests and Le­vites

Gos­pel preach­ers

And con­fess­ors num­ber­less

Prelates meek and ho­ly teach­ers

Bear the palm of right­eous­ness.

Virgin souls

by high pro­fes­sion

To the Lamb de­vot­ed here

Strewing flow­ers in gay pro­cess­ion

At the mar­riage feast ap­pear.

All are blest to­ge­ther

prais­ing

God’s eter­nal ma­jes­ty

Thrice re­peat­ed an­thems rais­ing

To the all ho­ly Tri­ni­ty.

In your heav’n­ly ha­bi­ta­tions

In your bless­èd home on high

Hear

ye saints

our as­pi­ra­tions

As to God we lift our cry.

Ever prais­ing

ev­er pray­ing

Help ye thus your breth­ren here

That the will of God obey­ing

We in peace may per­sev­ere.

So may we

with hearts de­vot­ed

Serve our God in ho­li­ness;

So may we

by God pro­mot­ed

Share that heav­en which ye pos­sess.