Because Thou First Loved Me

Representative Text

1 I love, I love Thee, Lord most high
Because Thou first hast loved me;
I seek no other liberty
But that of being bound to Thee.

2 May memory no thought suggest,
But shall to Thy pure glory tend;
My understanding find no rest,
Except in Thee, its only end.

3 All mine is Thine; say but the word:
Whate’er Thou willest shall be done;
I know Thy love, all-gracious Lord,
I know it seeks my good alone.

4 Apart from Thee all things are naught;
Then grant, O my supremest Bliss;
Grant me to love Thee as I ought;
Thou givest all in giving this.

Amen.

Source: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #458

Translator: Edward Caswall

Edward Caswall was born in 1814, at Yately, in Hampshire, where his father was a clergyman. In 1832, he went to Brasenose College, Oxford, and in 1836, took a second-class in classics. His humorous work, "The Art of Pluck," was published in 1835; it is still selling at Oxford, having passed through many editions. In 1838, he was ordained Deacon, and in 1839, Priest. He became perpetural Curate of Stratford-sub-Castle in 1840. In 1841, he resigned his incumbency and visited Ireland. In 1847, he joined the Church of Rome. In 1850, he was admitted into the Congregation of the Oratory at Birmingham, where he has since remained. He has published several works in prose and poetry. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >

Author: St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier, the great missionary saint of the Roman Catholic Church, was the son of Don John Giasso and Donna Maria d'Azpilqueta y Xavier; he was born at the castle Xavier, near Pampeluna, Spain, on April 7, 1506, and is known to history by his mother's name. At the age of eighteen he entered the University of Paris, where in due course he graduated, and then devoted himself to teaching. It was here that he became acquainted with Ignatius Loyola the founder of the Jesuits, who was then planning the colossal work which he afterwards accomplished. Xavier became one of the first nine of Loyola's converts, and the most enthusiastic of the little band. The date of the formation of the Order of the Jesuits is given as Aug. 15, 1534, and t… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: I love, I love Thee, Lord most high
Title: Because Thou First Loved Me
Latin Title: O Deus, ego amo Te
Author: St. Francis Xavier
Translator: Edward Caswall
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

RETREAT (Hastings)


MENDON (17151)


CANONBURY

Derived from the fourth piano piece in Robert A. Schumann's Nachtstücke, Opus 23 (1839), CANONBURY first appeared as a hymn tune in J. Ireland Tucker's Hymnal with Tunes, Old and New (1872). The tune, whose title refers to a street and square in Islington, London, England, is often matched to Haver…

Go to tune page >


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextPage Scan

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #458

Include 18 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us