The Catholic Prayer Book and Manual of Meditations/Respice Stellam, Voca Mariam

by Francis Stanfield

“RESPICE STELLAM, VOCA MARlAM.”

Drear is the nightfall,
Lonely we roam,
Wandering exiles,
Far from our home;
Borne on the billows of life’s stormy sea
Bright Star of Heaven,
Our trust is in thee.
When night falls drearily,
When life flows wearily,
Respice Stellam,
Voca Mariam.

Winds of affliction
Raise their rude blast,
Ruffling the ocean
Whereon we're cast;
Waves of temptation
Mountain-like roll,
'Neath their dark billows
Sinking the soul,
Fear not, but gaze afar,
On the soft shining star,
Respice Stellam,
Voca Mariam.

When shall lone spirits
Sorrow no more?
When shall our aching eyes
Gaze on the shore?
Oh, for the twilight
To break through the gloom!
Oh, for the rest
Of our only true home!
Stay, mourner, stay thy fears,
Joy shall dry up thy tears,
Respice Stellam,
Voca Mariam.

Gentle and beautiful
Beaming above,
Shines out all brightly,
The fair star of love.
Rest of the weary,
Hope mid the night,
Guiding the lonely
In its soft light.
Yes, mid the darkest night,
That star still shineth bright;
Respice Stellam,
Voca Mariam.

 

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