Mystical Rose and Gate of Heaven
Intended for the any feast of Our Blessed Lady and May Devotions
Mystical Rose and Gate of Heaven,
Refuge of sinners here below,
Who, for thy children here, hath striv’n
To pour God’s grace in torrent flow.
Sing we thine honour, House of Gold;
The beauty of thy life be told.
O Blesséd Mother hear our plea;
Pray for the Church and pray for me.
Thought in the Wisdom of the Lord,
Brought forth immaculate and pure.
Received into the House of God,
A temple to the temple borne.
With wisdom, patience, hope and prayer,
Were thou adorned, by God’s grace there.
O Humble Mother hear our plea;
Pray for the Church and pray for me.
‘Hail, full of grace,’ Bless’d Gabriel’s word
Which brought thy heart to troubled state.
‘Fear not, thy favour is with the Lord,
To bear the saviour of thy race.’
In the obedience thou declared,
Prince, priest and faithful all have shared.
Obedient Mother hear our plea;
Pray for the Church and pray for me.
Not in a palace decked with gold,
Nor with a worldly regal court,
But in a stable-cave, behold,
The Lamb of God, our Blesséd Lord.
Ark of the Covenant unstained,
Bring unto us this treasure gained.
O Lowly Mother hear our plea;
Pray for the Church and pray for me.
And through the life of Christ thy Son
Thou followed in humility.
Even to pillar, rod, and crown,
And weight of sin to Calvary.
There thine Immaculate Heart was pierced,
Where Precious Blood our fate reversed.
Sorrowful Mother hear our plea;
Pray for the Church and pray for me.
Upward Christ rose and burst the doors
Of hell and to the Father sped.
When time had come, thyself He called
To heav’n and to the throne prepared.
Gazing upon thy starry crown
The Church, her queen and mother own.
O Valiant Mother hear our plea;
Pray for the Church and pray for me.
Suggested tunes:
Sagina (And can it be that I should gain)
In Christ alone (In Christ alone)
Jerusalem (And did those feet)
Fr John Underhill SSC