Friend of the Home

Friend of the home: as when in Ga­li­lee

The mo­thers brought their lit­tle ones to Thee

So we

dear Lord

would now the child­ren bring

And seek for them the shel­ter of Thy wing.

Thine are they

by Thy love’s eter­nal claim

Thine we bap­tize them in the three­fold name;

Yet not the sign we trust

Lord

but the grace

That in Thy fold pre­pared the lambs a place.

Lord

may Thy Church

as with a mo­ther’s care

For Thee the lambs with­in her bo­som bear;

And grant

as morn­ing grows to noon

that they

Still in her love and ho­ly serv­ice stay.

Draw through the child the par­ents near­er Thee

Endue their home with grow­ing sanc­ti­ty;

And ga­ther all

by earth­ly homes made one

In Heav­en

O Christ

when earth­ly days are done.