| Lord of life and King of glory,Who didst deign a child to be,
 Cradled on a mother’s bosom,
 Throned upon a mother’s knee:
 For the children Thou hast given
 We must answer unto Thee!
 Since the day the blessèd motherThee, the world’s Redeemer, bore,
 Thou hast crowned us with an honor
 Women never knew before;
 And that we may bear it meetly
 We must seek Thine aid the more.
 Grant us, then, pure hearts and patient,That in all we do or say
 Little souls our deeds may copy,
 And be never led astray;
 Little feet our steps may follow
 In a safe and narrow way.
 When our growing sons and daughtersLook on life with eager eyes,
 Grant us then a deeper insight
 And new powers of sacrifice:
 Hope to trust them, faith to guide them,
 Love that nothing good denies.
 May we keep our holy callingStainless in its fair renown,
 That when all the work is over
 And we lay the burdens down,
 Then the children Thou hast given
 Still may be our joy and crown.
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