O Heart of Jesus, purest Heart,
Altar of holiness thou art,
Cleanse thou my heart, so sordid, cold,
And stained by sins so manifold.
2. Take from me, Lord, this tepid will,
Which doth thy Heart with loathing fill;
And then infuse a spirit new –
A fervent spirit, deep and true.
3. Most humble Heart of all that beat,
Heart full of goodness, meek and sweet,
Give me a heart more like to thine,
And light the flame of love in mine.
4. But, ah, were e’en my heart on fire
With all the seraphim’s desire,
Till love a conflagration proved,
Not yet would’st thou enough be loved.
5. That therefore thou may’st worthily
Be loved, O loving Lord, by me,
That love which in thy Heart doth burn
Give me to love thee in return.
6. May this thy love’s most fiery dart
Strike deep and set on fire my heart,
And in that burning may it be
Dissolved and all-consumed in thee.
7. Death to be sought with yearnings high,
Thus from love’s violence to die;
Ah, may my heart love’s victim prove
For the Redeemer’s Heart of love.
8. So let me die for love of thee,
O Heart, all full of love for me,
That with a new heart’s virgin-hoard
I may begin to love thee, Lord.