Saturday, January 12, 2019

Faith of our fathers, Mary's prayers, and Erin's saints

"Faith of our Fathers.  For England"

Faith of our Fathers!  Mary's prayers
Shall win our country back to thee;
And through the truth that comes
          from God
England shall then indeed be free.

"Faith of our Fathers.  For Ireland"

Faith of our Fathers!  Mary's prayers
Shall keep our country fast to thee;
And through the truth that comes from God
O we shall prosper and be free!

     Stanza three in the original in both cases.  Frederick W. Faber, Jesus and Mary:  or, Catholic hymns for singing and reading (London:  Richardson and Son, 1849), 135-139.  "For England":  four stanzas; "For Ireland":  seven stanzas, including, in stanza five, the line, "But Erin's Saints shall fight for us, | and keep undimmed thy blessed light."

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