  Holy ministers of light! Hidden from our mortal sight, But whose presence can impart Peace and comfort to the heart, When we weep, or when we pray, When we falter in the way, Or our hearts grow faint with fear, Let us feel your presence near. Wandering over ways untrod, Doubting self and doubting God, Oft we miss the shining mark, Oft we stumble in the dark. Holy, holy life above! Full of peace and perfect love, Some sweet rays of summer shed On the wintry ways we tread. Blessed angels! ye who heed All our striving, all our need, When our hearts in silence break, When the cross is hard to bear, When we fail to do and dare, Make our wounded spirits feel All your power to bless and heal. When we gaze on new-made graves, When the love the spirit craves, Pure and saintly, like a star, Shines upon us from afar, Lead us upward to that light, Till our faith is changed to sight, Till we learn to murmur not, And with patience bear our lot. By our human weal and woe, By our life of toil below, By our sorrow and our pain, By our hope of heavenly gain, By these cherished forms of clay, Fading from our sight away, Do we plead for light, more light, From that world beyond our sight. Never, till our hearts are dust, Till our souls shall cease to trust, And our aspirations die, Shall we cease with hope, to gaze On that veil’s mysterious haze, Or the presence to implore Of the loved ones gone before. Holy spirit! quickening all, On thy boundless love we call; Send thy messengers of light, To unseal our inward sight; Lift us from our low estate, Make us truly wise and great, That our lives, through love, may be Full of peace and rest in Thee. |
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