Protect us, while telling
Thy praises we sing,
In faithful hearts dwelling,
Christ Jesus, our King.
Ave, ave, ave, Maria;
Ave, ave, ave, Maria.
2. Thou cam’st to redeem us,
A pure Maiden’s Child;
Pure bodies beseem us
And hearts undefiled. Ave, etc.
3. And thou, ever glorious
‘Midst children of Eve,
God’s Mother victorious,
Our praises receive. Ave, etc.
4. By God’s visitation
Thy chaste womb didst bear
The King of creation,
King David’s true heir. Ave, etc.
5. Whose glory in heaven
And earth is confessed,
To thee it was given
To nurse at thy breast. Ave, etc.
6. On their bosom playing
From Bethlehem brought,
His own law obeying,
His temple he sought. Ave, etc.
7. While thou didst embrace him,
The Magi adored
With gifts brought to praise him,
Their King and their Lord. Ave, etc.
8. Then Egypt received him,
Its idols o’erthrown;
And strangers believed him,
Denied by his own. Ave, etc.
9. With Joseph, thou losing
The joy of mankind,
His Father’s house using
Thy Truant didst find. Ave, etc.
1 0. The prayer from him earneth
A mystical sign,
When water he turneth
To life-giving wine. Ave, etc.
1 1 . Thy heart, ever truest,
Is pierced by the sword,
As dying thou viewest
Thy King and thy Lord. Ave, etc.
1 2. Day breaks, his is risen,
Thy Lord and thy son,
Set free from death’s prison:
His glory is won. Ave, etc.