For the Beauty of the Earth

Pierpont's original 1864 lyrics:

For the beauty of the earth,

   For the beauty of the skies,

For the Love which from our birth

   Over and around us lies:

Christ, our God, to Thee we raise

This our Sacrifice of Praise.

For the beauty of each hour

   Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

   Sun and moon and stars of light:

 

For the joy of ear and eye,

   For the heart and brain's delight,

For the mystic harmony

   Linking sense to sound and sight:

 

For the joy of human love,

   Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above;

   For all gentle thoughts and mild:

 

For each perfect Gift of Thine

   To our race so freely given,

Graces human and Divine,

   Flowers of earth, and buds of Heaven:

 

For Thy Bride that evermore

   Lifteth holy hands above,

Offering up on every shore

   This Pure Sacrifice of Love:

 

For Thy Martyrs' crown of light,   
For Thy Prophets' eagle eye
For Thy bold Confessors' might
For the lips of Infancy:

For Thy Virgins' robes of snow,

   For Thy Maiden Mother mild,

For Thyself, with hearts aglow,

   Jesu, Victim undefiled,

(final refrain:) Offer we at Thine own Shrine

Thyself, sweet Sacrament Divine.