My God, I Love Thee, Not Because

Representative Text

1 My God, I love Thee, not because
I hope for heav'n thereby,
nor yet for fear that, loving not,
I might forever die.
But for that Thou didst all mankind
upon the cross embrace;
for us didst bear the nails and spear,
and manifold disgrace;

2 And griefs and torments numberless,
and sweat of agony,
e'en death itself, and all for man,
who was Thine enemy.
Then why, most loving Jesus Christ,
should I not love Thee well?
Not for the sake of winning heav'n,
nor any fear of hell;

3 Not with the hope of gaining aught,
nor seeking a reward,
but as Thyself hast loved 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!

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #336

Author (attributed to): 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 >

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 >

Text Information

First Line: My God, I love Thee, not because
Title: My God, I Love Thee, Not Because
Latin Title: O Deus, ego amo Te
Translator: Edward Caswall (1849)
Author (attributed to): St. Francis Xavier
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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Instances

Instances (1 - 31 of 31)
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The United Methodist Hymnal Music Supplement II #197

The United Methodist Hymnal Music Supplement II #198

Hymnal #605

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The Hymnal 1982 #682

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #517a

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #517b

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Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #458a

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Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #458b

Great Songs of the Church (Revised) #451

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Hymns to the Living God #234

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Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #336

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #4414

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

The United Methodist Hymnal #470

TextFlexScoreAudio

The United Methodist Hymnal #470b

Hymns and Psalms #171a

Hymns and Psalms #171b

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Ancient and Modern #730a

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Ancient and Modern #730b

Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #229

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Common Praise #524a

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Common Praise #524b

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CPWI Hymnal #138

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #65

Hymns Old and New #344

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The New English Hymnal #73a

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The New English Hymnal #73b

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Moravian Book of Worship #602

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #479

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #513a

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #513b

The Baptist Hymnal #333

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