Now Doth the Sun Ascend the Sky

Now doth the sun ascend the sky,
And wake creation with its ray;
Be present with us, Lord most high;
Through all the actions of the day.
Keep us eternal, Lord, this day,
From ev’ry sinful passion free;
Grant us in all we do or say,
In all our thoughts to honor Thee.

O Lord of perfect purity,
Who dost the world with light adorn;
And paint the field of azure sky,
With lovely hues of eve and morn.
True sun, upon our souls arise,
In beauty shining evermore;
And thro’ each sense the quick’ning stream,
Of thy eternal Spirit pour.

Upon our fainting soul distill,
The grace of thy celestial dew.
Let no fresh snare to sin beguile,
No former sin revive anew.
Teach us to knock at heaven’s high door,
Teach us the prize of life to win;
Teach us all evil to abhor,
And purify ourselves within.

So when the evening stars appear,
And in their train the darkness bring;
May we, O Lord, with conscience clear,
To Thee our grateful praises sing.
Glory to God the Father be,
And to the sole begotten Son;
The same, O Holy Ghost to Thee,
While everlasting ages run.

The Christian Brothers, The Catholic Youth’s Hymn Book (New York: P. O’Shea, 1871).