O Purest of Creatures

This Marian hymn was written by English hymn-writer, theologian, Roman Catholic convert and priest, Fr Frederick William Faber (1814-1863).

With meter of 11 11 11 11, tunes it has been set to include:

MARIA ZU LIEBEN (from Paderborn Gesangbuch, 1765) - the most common tune
ST DENIO
the Lourdes Hymn.

Downloads

This section may contain affiliate links: I earn from qualifying purchases on these. Free downloads are provided where possible (eg for public domain items).

PowerPoint
slides

SATB arrangement of ST DENIO

Examples

Choir with organ, tune

Choir with electronic organ, tune LOURDES HYMN:

Singer with electronic organ backing, tune LOURDES HYMN:

Choir with organ, recorded live in a church-service, tune LOURDES HYMN:

Singer with organ, professional recording, tune MARIA ZU LIEBEN:

Choir with organ, tune MARIA ZU LIEBEN

Lyrics

O purest of creatures! sweet Mother, sweet Maid;
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid.
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother, and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world.
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church - all her eyes are on thee.
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

He gazed on thy soul, it was spotless and fair;
For the empire of sin, it had never been there;
None had e'er owned thee, dear Mother, but He,
And He blessed thy clear shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

Earth gave Him one lodging; `twas deep in thy breast,
And God found a home where the sinner finds rest;
His home and His hiding-place, both were in thee;
He was won by thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

Oh, blissful and calm was the wonderful rest
That thou gavest thy God in thy virginal breast;
For the heaven He left He found heaven in thee,
And He shone in thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.