Caelestis urbs Jerusalem

Jerusalem, thou City blest!
Dear vision of celestial rest!
Which far above the starry sky,
Pil’d up with living stones on high,
Art, as a Bride, encircled bright,
With million angel forms of light:

Oh, wedded in a prosperous hour!
The Father’s glory was thy dower;
The Spirit all His graces shed,
Thou peerless Queen, upon thy head;
When Christ espous’d thee for his Bride,
O City bright and glorified!

Thy gates a pearly lustre pour;
Thy gates are open evermore;
And thither evermore draw nigh
All who for Christ have dar’d to die;
Or smit with love of their dear Lord,
Have pains endur’d, and joys abhorr’d.

Thou too, O Church, which here we see!
No easy task hath builded thee.
Long did the chisels ring around!
Long did the mallets’ blows rebound!
Long work’d the head, and toil’d the hand!
Ere stood thy stones as now they stand!

To God the Father, glory due
Be paid by all the heavenly Host;
And to his only Son most true;
With Thee, O mighty Holy Ghost!
To whom praise, pow’r, and blessing be.
Through ages of eternity.