Jesus, thou Joy of loving hearts!
Thou Fount of life! Thou Light of men!
From the best bliss that earth imparts
We turn unfilled to thee again.

Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;
Thou savest those that on thee call;
To them that seek thee, thou art good,
To them that find thee, all in all.

We taste thee, O thou living Bread!
And long to feast upon thee still;
We drink of thee, the Fountain Head,
And thirst from thee our souls to fill!

Our restless spirits yearn for thee,
Where'er our changeful lot is cast;
Glad, when thy gracious smile we see,
Blest, when our faith can hold thee fast

O Jesus, ever with us stay!
Make all our moments calm and bright!
Chase the dark night of sin away!
Shed o'er the world thy holy light!

Amen.

Scripture References:
st. 2 = Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, Rom. 10:13

This pious, evangelical hymn expresses a yearning for the feeding¬-by-faith symbolized in the Lord's Supper. Christ is the focal point as "the fount of life" (st. 1) and the Light of the World (st. 1, 4).

The original source of this devotional hymn is the Latin poem “Jesu, dulcis memoria” from the late twelfth century. The evangelical fervor of the Latin text has caused some hymnodists to attribute the poem to Bernard of Clairveaux, but without sufficient proof. Ray Palmer (PHH 262) freely translated selected stanzas (4, 3, 20, 28, 10) from the poem. These were published in the Sabbath Hymn Book (1858), beginning with the words “Jesus, thou joy of loving hearts" (see PHH 480). The translated text has been altered for publication in the Psalter Hymnal.

Liturgical Use:
As a partial substitute for one of the Lord's Supper prayers; during distribution of the bread and wine; many other occasions on non-communion Sundays (without st. 3).

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook