Help Lord the Souls that Thou Hast Made

This is a hymn about Purgatory. It is particularly suitable for All Souls Day.  

The words were written as a poem by  English Anglican (later Roman Catholic convert) priest, poet and theologian John Henry Newman (1801–1890).  The first publication was in 'The Oratory' in 1857.

With meter CM, tunes it is set to include:
  • BELMONT
  • BURFORD
  • Various other un-named tunes



Downloads

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Examples

Singer, unaccompanied:

Singer with organ, tune BELMONT:


Instrumental - organ, tune BELMONT:


Instrumental - tune BURFORD


Lyrics

Traditional language

Help, Lord, the souls that thou hast made,
The souls to thee so dear,
In prison for the debt unpaid
Of sin committed here.

These holy souls, they suffer on,
Resigned in heart and will,
Until thy high behest is done,
And justice has its fill.

For daily falls, for pardoned crime
They joy to undergo
The shadow of thy cross sublime,
The remnant of thy woe.

Oh, by their patient of delay,
Their hope amid their pain,
Their sacred zeal to burn away
Disfigurement and stain.

Oh, by their fire of love, not less
In keenness than the flame;
Oh, by their very helplessness,
Oh, by thy own great name.

Good Jesus, help! Sweet Jesus, aid
the souls to thee most dear,
In prison for the debt unpaid
Of sins committed here.


Modern English

Help, Lord, the souls that you have made,
The souls to You so dear,
In prison for the debt unpaid
Of sin committed here.

These holy souls, they suffer on,
Resigned in heart and will,
Until Your high behest is done,
And justice has its fill.

For daily falls, for pardoned crime
They joy to undergo
The shadow of Your cross sublime,
The remnant of Your woe.

Oh, by their patient of delay,
Their hope amid their pain,
Their sacred zeal to burn away
Disfigurement and stain.

Oh, by their fire of love, not less
In keenness than the flame;
Oh, by their very helplessness,
Oh, by thy own great name.

Good Jesus, help! Sweet Jesus, aid
The souls to thee most dear,
In prison for the debt unpaid
Of sins committed here.

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