The Guardian Angel Father Faber Nicola A. Montani
1. Dear angel! Ever at my side, How loving must thou be, To leave thy home in Heav'n To guide a sinful child like me.
2. Thy beautiful and shining face, I see not, tho' so near; The sweetness of thy soft low voice Too deaf am I to hear.
3. But when, dear Spirit, I kneel down, Both morn and nigh to pray'r, Something there is within my heart, Which tells me thou art there.
4. Oh! When I pray thou prayest too, Thy pray'r is all for me; But when I sleep, thou sleepest not, But watchest patiently.
5. Then, for thy sake, dear Angel! now More humble will I be: But I am weak, and when I fall, O weary not of me.
6. Then love me, love me, Angel dear! And I will love thee more; And help me when my soul is cast Upon th'eternal shore.
Help, Lord, the Souls which Thou hast made
The Faithful departed Cardinal Newman From a Slovak Hymnal Arr. by N. A. M.
1. Help, Lord, the souls which Thou hast made, The souls to Thee so dear, In prison for the debt unpaid, Of sins committed here.
2. These holy souls, they suffer on Resigned in heart and will, Until The high behest is done, And justice has its fill.
3. For daily falls, for pardoned crime They joy to undergo The shadow of Thy Cross sublime, The remnant of Thy woe.
4. Oh, by their patience of delay, Their hope amid their pain, Their sacred zeal to burn away Disfigurement and stain.
5. Oh, by their fire of love, not less In keenness than in flame, Oh, by their very helplessness, Oh, by Thy own great Name.
6. Good Jesus, help! Sweet Jesus, aid The souls to Thee most dear, In prison for the debt unpaid Of sins committed here.
Ye Souls of the Faithful O vos fideles animae
Tr. by Father Caswall from an Italian Hymn Book Arr. by N. A. M.
1. Ye souls of the faithful, who sleep in the Lord, Who yet are shut out from your final reward: O! would I could lend you assistance to fly From prison below to your palace on high.
2. O Father of mercies, Thine anger withhold; These works of Thy Hand in Thy mercy behold: Too oft from Thy path they have wandered aside, But Thee, their Creator, they never denied.
3. O tender Redeemer, their misery see: Deliver the souls that were ransomed by Thee: Behold how they love Thee, despite of their pain: Restore them, restore them to favor again.