O FLOWER OF GRACE! DIVINEST FLOWER

O flower of grace! Divinest flower!\nGod’s light thy life, God’s love thy dower!\nThat all alone with virgin ray\nDost make in heaven eternal may;\nSweet falls the peerless dignity\nOf God’s eternal choice on thee!\n92\nMother dearest! Mother fairest!\nMaiden purest! Maiden rarest!\nHelp of earth and joy of heaven!\nLove and praise to thee be given,\nBlissful mother! Blissful maiden!\n2. Choice flower! That bloomest on the breast\nOf Jesus, which is now thy rest,\nAs thine was once the chosen bed\nOf his dear heart and sacred head:\nO Mary! Sweet it is to see\nThy Son’s creation graced by thee!\nMother dearest! Mother fairest! &c\n3. O queenly flower! Enthroned above,\nThe trophy of Almighty love!\nAh me! How he hath hung thee round,\nWith all love-tokens that abound,\nWith God’s own light, beyond the reach\nOf angel song or mortal speech!\nMother dearest! Mother fairest! &c\n4. O Flower of God! Divinest Flower!\nElected from his inmost bower!\nWhere angels come not, there art thou;\nA crown of glory on thy brow!\nWhile far below, all bright and brave,\nTheir gleamy palms the ransomed wave.\nMother dearest! Mother fairest! &c\n5. Yet thou didst bloom on earth at first,\nIn meekness proved, in sorrow nursed;\nAnd heaven must own its debt to earth,\nSweet flower! For thy surpassing worth;\nAnd angels, for their queen’s dear sake,\nOur road to thee more smooth shall make.\nMother dearest! Mother fairest! &c\n6. O Mary! When we think of thee,\nOur hearts grow light as light can be;\nFor thou hast felt as we have felt,\nAnd thou hast knelt as we have knelt;\nAnd so it is, - that utterly,\nMother of God! We trust in thee!\nMother dearest! Mother fairest! &c