O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts CWB II 576

A c12 Latin text by St Bernard of Clairvaux and paraphrased by Ray Palmer. I have no Latin but it seems clear that it is not meant to be an actual translation. Even with this version I have found variant texts that do not limit the light of Christ to being “our true light”.

It is set to JESU DULCIS MEMORIA a tune I blogged badly here because BIAB CAN”T DO CHANT.

This site has recordings of the Latin chant and a very different English translation.

This is the text from CWB II.

O Jesus, joy of loving hearts,
the fount of life, and our true light;
we seek the peace your love imparts
and stand rejoicing in your sight.

Your truth unchanged has ever stood;
You save all those who heed your call;
To those who seek you, you are good;
To those who find you, all in all.

We taste you, Lord, our living bread,
and long to feast upon you still;
we drink of you, the fountainhead;
our thirsting souls to quench and fill.

For you our restless spirits yearn,
until your face we see at last;
glad, when your presence we discern,
blest, when our faith can hold you fast.

O Jesus, ever with us stay!
Make all our moments calm and bright!
O, cast the night of sin away!
Shed on the world your holy light.

This version in English is from OCP and it seems a bit hurried, with insufficient gaps between lines to catch your breath.

This is more singable:

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