O DEUS, EGO AMO TE
ATTRIBUTED TO ST. FRANCIS XAVIER. Tr. EDWARD CASWALL
［1506-1552］
MY God, I love thee: not because
I hope for heaven thereby,
Nor because they who love thee not
Must burn eternally.
Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me
Upon the Cross embrace;
For me didst bear the nails and spear,
And manifold disgrace.
And grief and torments numberless,
And sweat of agony;
Yea, death itself; and all for me
Who was thine enemy.
Then why, O Blessèd Jesu Christ,
Should I not love thee well?—
Not for the hope of winning heaven,
Nor of escaping hell;
Not with the hope of gaining aught,
Not seeking a reward;
But as thyself hast lovèd me,
O ever-loving Lord!
E'en so I love thee and will love,
And in thy praise will sing,
Solely because thou art my God,
And my eternal King.