171 Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts
Latin 11th Century
Tr. Ray Palmer
A hymn of devotional meditation especially appropriate for the Communion Service.
From the same Latin hymn, “Jesu dulcis memoria,” as Hymn 155 (which see) but using a different set of quatrains, Nos. 4, 3, 20, 28, and 10, which appear in the Latin as follows:
Jesu, dulcedo cordium;
Fons veri, lumen mentium,
Excedit omne gaudium,
Et omne desiderium.
Jesus, spes poenitentibus,
Quam pius es petentibus,
Quam bonus te quaerentibus!
Sed quid invenientibus?
Qui te gustant, esuriunt;
Qui bibunt, adhuc sitiunt:
Desiderare nesciunt
Nisi Jesum, quem diligunt.
Quoconque loco fuero,
Mecum Jesum desidero;
Quam laetus, cum invenero!
Quam felix, cum tenuero!
Mane nobiscum, Domine,
Et nos illustra lumine,
Pulsa mentis caligine,
Mundum replens dulcedine.
For comments on the translator, Ray Palmer, see Hymn 131.
MUSIC. QUEBEC. This tune by Henry Baker was originally set to the hymn, “Sun of my soul.” It is also called “Hesperus” and “Whitburn.”
Henry Baker (not to be confused with Henry W. Baker), 1835-1910, son of Rev. James Baker, was educated as a civil engineer and spent many years in his profession on railroad work in India. He loved music, and, encouraged by John B. Dykes, proceeded in 1867 to his musical degree (Mus. Bac.) at Exeter College, Oxford.