O PUREST OF CREATURES

O purest of creatures! Sweet mother, sweet maid;\nThe one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid.\nDark night hath come down on us, Mother, and we\nLook out for thy shining, sweet star of the sea.\n2. Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world,\nAnd the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;\nAnd the tempest-tossed church - all her eyes are on thee;\nThey look to their shining, sweet star of the sea.\n3. He gazed on thy soul; it was spotless and fair;\nFor the empire of sin - it had never been there;\nNone ever had owned thee, dear Mother, but he,\nAnd he blessed thy clear shining, sweet star of the sea.\n4. Earth gave him one lodging; ‘twas deep in thy breast,\nAnd God found a home where the sinner finds rest;\nHis home and his hiding-place, both were in thee;\nHe was won by thy shining, sweet star of the sea.\n5. Oh, blissful and calm was the wonderful rest\nThat thou gavest thy God in thy virginal breast;\nFor the heaven he left he found heaven in thee,\nAnd he shone in thy shining, sweet star of the sea.