Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Jesus,! the very thought of thee

Author (attributed to): Bernard of Clairvaux; Translator: Edward Caswall
Tune: ST. AGNES (Dykes)
Published in 826 hymnals

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Piano/Organ

I Stand Amazed in the Presence

Instrumental

Worship the King

Choral

ACCLAMATION ON "AZMON"

Full Text

1 Jesus! the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

2 No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Thy Jesus' Name,
The Saviour of mankind.

3 O Hope of every contrite heart,
O Joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

4 But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is
None but His loved ones know.

5 Jesus! our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus! be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.

Hymnal: according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 1871

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Author (attributed to): Bernard of Clairvaux

Bernard of Clairvaux, saint, abbot, and doctor, fills one of the most conspicuous positions in the history of the middle ages. His father, Tecelin, or Tesselin, a knight of great bravery, was the friend and vassal of the Duke of Burgundy. Bernard was born at his father's castle on the eminence of Les Fontaines, near Dijon, iu Burgundy, in 1091. He was educated at Chatillon, where he was distinguished for his studious and meditative habits. The world, it would be thought, would have had overpowering attractions for a youth who, like Bernard, had all the advantages that high birth, great personal beauty, graceful manners, and irresistible influence could give, but, strengthened in the resolve by night visions of his mother (who had dies! in… Go to person page >

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 >

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Text Information

Related Texts

First Line: Jesus,! the very thought of thee
Title: Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
Latin Title: Iesu dulcis memoria
Author (attributed to): Bernard of Clairvaux
Translator: Edward Caswall
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Source: Latin, 12th century
Language: English
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Notes

Scripture References:
all st. = Eph. 3:19

The extended (forty-two stanzas) Latin poem 'Jesu, dulcis memo¬ria" is the source of this text (see discussion at PHH 307, which includes its traditional attribution to Bernard of Clairveaux). Although some scholars believe the poem was written by Bernard, others suggest that it originated in Britain at the end of the twelfth century. Most agree, however, that the poem's fervor was influenced by the famous Bernard. The English text is taken from a fifty-stanza translation by Edward Caswall (PHH 438) published in his Lyra Catholica (1849), where the opening line read “Jesu, the very thought of Thee.”

Displaying a passionate devotion to Christ, the text provides a clear hint of its original use as a text for personal devotion. Its focus is entirely on Christ and his saving love, a love that gives hope, joy, and rest to believers (st. 1,3), a love that excels any human love (st. 2, 4).

Liturgical Use:
Worship that focuses on Christ's redemptive work; Lord's Supper; Lent.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

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Tune

ST. AGNES (Dykes)

John B. Dykes (PHH 147) composed ST. AGNES for [Jesus the Very Thought of Thee]. Dykes named the tune after a young Roman Christian woman who was martyred in A.D. 304 during the reign of Diocletian. St. Agnes was sentenced to death for refusing to marry a nobleman to whom she said, "I am already eng…

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Timeline

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Media

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #225
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #480
The United Methodist Hymnal #175
Worship and Rejoice #420
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Instances

Instances (30)TextImageAudioScore
Baptist Hymnal 1991 #225TextImageAudioScore
Baptist Hymnal 2008 #173TextImage
Celebrating Grace Hymnal #386Image
Celebration Hymnal #89TextImage
Chalice Hymnal #102Text
Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #101
Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition #560Text
Common Praise #617
Complete Anglican Hymns Old & New #376
Complete Mission Praise #386
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #315Text
Evangelical Lutheran Worship #754Image
Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #642TextImage
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard Edition #120
Hymns of Faith #163TextImage
Hymns Old and New: New Anglican #264
Presbyterian Hymnal #310TextImage
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #480TextImageAudioScore
Revival Hymns and Choruses #56
Revival Hymns and Choruses #57
Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #241
Sing Glory: Hymns, Psalms and Songs for a New Century #534
Sing Joyfully #170TextImage
The Christian Life Hymnal #55
The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #79
The New Century Hymnal #507Image
The United Methodist Hymnal #175TextImageAudioScore
The Worshiping Church #112TextImage
Trinity Hymnal #645Text
Worship and Rejoice #420TextImageAudioScore
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