174. Mary, weep not, weep no longer

1 Mary, weep not, weep no longer,
Now thy heart hath gained its goal;
Here, in truth, the Gardener standeth,
But the Gardener of thy soul,
Who within thy spirit's garden
By his love hath made thee whole.

2 Now from grief and lamentation
Lift thy drooping heart with cheer;
While for love of him thou mournest,
Lo, thy Lord regained is here!
Fainting for him, thou hast found him;
All unknown, behold him near!

3 *Whence thy sorrow, whence thy weeping,
Since with thee true bliss abides?
In thy heart, though undiscovered,
Balm of consolation hides:
Holding all, thou canst no longer
Lack the cure that Health provides.

4 Nay, no wonder if she knows not
Till the Sower's seed be sown,
Till from him, the Word eternal,
Light within her heart is thrown.
Now he calls her, and 'Rabboni,'
She in turn her Lord doth own.

5 Faith that washed the feet of Jesus,
Fed with dew the Fount of Grace
Win for us a like compassion,
That, with all the ransomed race,
At the glory of his rising
We may see him face to face.

6 Glory be to God and honour,
Who, preferring sacrifice,
Far above the rich man's bounty,
Sweetness found in Mary's sighs,
Who for all, his love foretasting,
Spreads the banquet of the skies. Amen.

Text Information
First Line: Mary, weep not, weep no longer
Latin Title: O Maria, noli flere
Translator: Laurence Housman, 1865-1959
Language: English
Publication Date: 1986
Topic: St. Mary Magdalene: July 22nd; Office Hymn; The Christian Year: Festivals and Other Holy Days: Proper
Source: Latin, 13th century
Copyright: Tr. By permission of Oxford University Press (from "English Hymnal")
Notes: Alternative tune TANTUM ERGO 195
Tune Information
Name: URBS BEATA
Key: e minor
Copyright: Arr. by permission of Oxford University Press (from "English Hymnal," 1933)



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