"O Sacred Heart"
Discovering the English Catholic hymn in honour of the Sacred Heart
Since we are in the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart, with the Feast of the Sacred Heart occurring this Friday, I thought it fitting to find a hymn dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for today’s post.
The hymn “O Sacred Heart, Our Home Lies Deep in Thee,” is a beautiful English Catholic hymn written in the latter half of the 1800s in honour of the Sacred Heart. The author of the hymn, Francis Stanfield, lived in England and was friends with Charles Dickens. Stanfield converted to Catholicism and later became a Catholic priest. He wrote numerous hymns and published two hymnals. Little else seems to be known about this priest, with his enduring legacy being found in his contributions to Catholic hymnody.
The hymn “O Sacred Heart” has several verses, the text of which may be found below. The hymn uses the word “exile” twice, recalling the persecution that Catholics had endured in Fr. Stanfield’s native country. Each verse begins and ends with the invocation, “O Sacred Heart.” In this way, Fr. Stanfield reminds the faithful that consolation, mercy, truth, peace, and eternal life can be found only in Christ’s Sacred Heart. The melody of the hymn is simple yet solemn, which is very appropriate for a hymn dedicated to the Heart of our infinitely merciful and almighty King.
Please enjoy the following recording of “O Sacred Heart,” found below the words to the hymn. Due to technological difficulties, the video may not have embedded in the post, but you can listen to the hymn by clicking on the link at the end of this post.
O Sacred Heart,
Our home lies deep in thee;
On earth thou art an exile’s rest,
In heaven the glory of the blest,
O Sacred Heart.
O Sacred Heart,
Thou fount of contrite tears;
Where’er those living waters flow,
New life to sinners they bestow,
O Sacred Heart.
O Sacred Heart,
Bless our dear native land;
May England’s sons in truth e’er stand,
With faith’s bright banner still in hand,
O Sacred Heart.
O Sacred Heart,
Our trust is all in thee,
For though earth’s night be dark and drear,
Thou breathest rest where thou art near,
O Sacred Heart.
O Sacred Heart,
When shades of death shall fall,
Receive us ’neath thy gentle care,
And save us from the tempter’s snare,
O Sacred Heart.
O Sacred Heart,
Lead exiled children home,
Where we may ever rest near thee,
In peace and joy eternally,
O Sacred Heart.