Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
For Unison Choir and Organ. A setting of the medieval hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux. A wonderfully atmospheric treatment of the traditional chant.
Text: Attr. to Bernard of Clairvaux, ca. 1091-1153; trans. by Edward Caswall, 1814-1878
Jesus, the very thought of thee, With sweetness fills my breast.But sweeter far thy face to see,and in thy presence rest.No voice can sing, no heart can frame, nor can the memory find a sweeter sound than Jesus' name, the Saviour of mankind. O hope of every contrite heart! O joy of all the meek, to those who fall, How kind thou art! How good to those who seek! But what to those who find? Ah! This nor tongue nor pen can show: the love of Jesus, what it is,none but who love him know. Jesus, our only joy be thou, as thou our prize wilt be, in thee be all our glory now, and through eternity.