Sleep, Holy Babe

Representative Text

1 Sleep, holy Babe, Upon your Mother’s breast!
Great Lord of earth and sea and sky,
How sweet it is to see you lie
In such a place of rest!

2 Sleep, holy Babe, Your angels watch around,
All bending low with folded wings
Before th'incarnate King of kings
In rev'rent awe profound!

3 Sleep, holy Babe, While I with Mary gaze
In joy upon that face awhile,
Upon the loving infant smile
Which there divinely plays.

4 Sleep, holy Babe, And take your brief repose;
Too quickly will your slumbers break
And you to lengthened pains awake,
That death alone shall close.


Source: One in Faith #370

Author: 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: Sleep, holy Babe, Upon Thy Mother's breast
Title: Sleep, Holy Babe
Author: Edward Caswall
Meter: 4.6.8.8.6.
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #6144
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The Cyber Hymnal #6144

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One in Faith #370

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