By Chaplain Mike
Here is a wonderful hymn that would be appropriate for devotional and group use throughout Ordinary Time. It is sung to the tune many know as, “Be Thou My Vision.”
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe
Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day
Lord all all kindliness, Lord of all grace
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
Text: Jan Struther, 1901-1953
Music: Irish traditional
Art from My Chloe Flower, Erica Maule
The Internet Monk Archives 
It also appears in the United Methodist supplement “The Faith We Sing” (#2197). I had not heard it before but will try to use it in worship. The tune is one of my favorites.
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It’s on the ‘Faith of Our Fathers’ CD – where I first heard it, it’s been my favorite hymn ever since. My parish sings it but I’ve never heard it at another Catholic parish.
For a multi-media meditation, and a somewhat different “take” on the song, pair the verses with the paintings in Thomas Cole’s Voyage of Life series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Voyage_of_Life).
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It’s familiar to Episcopalians & Anglicans too, I believe. “Vicar of Dibley” has an episode where it was sung.
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Thanks Mary, typos are my specialty!
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Amen! Beautiful hymn.
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Beautiful words. I hope you don’t mind me mentioning that they were penned by Jan Struther not Ian!
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The music for these verses (an Irish traditional tune) is also quite lovely as well!
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Wow!
beautiful hymn. I love how each verse concentrates on a specific part of the day indicating that our reverence of God should be all throughout the day.
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Beautiful words for this well known tune.
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We sang it in church a few weeks ago. It’s in the Lutheran hymnal (red ELCA), but I’m not sure about others.
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This is fantastic! Where did you find it?
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