Our Lady of Good Counsel (The thought steals o'er me as I kneel)

This is a hymn about Mary under the title Our Lady of Good Counsel.

The author and composer are unknown.

Hymn-books where it has been published in include:

The Catholic school and sodality hymnal, Philadelphia : Geo. W. Gibbons, 1900
Notre Dame Sisters - Sunday School hymn book 1907, Oliver Ditson Company, USA
Hymns used by the Pupils of the Sisters of Notre Dame, The Brothers of Charity, West Newbury, Mass. USA 1955

Based on the earliest of these dates, it is assumed that the song is now in the public domain.

If you have any information about it, especially who wrote the hymn, and what other tunes it has been sung to, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

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).

Piano / organ sheet music

PowerPoint slides

Examples

No on-line examples have been found. If you know where to find one, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Lyrics

Traditional language

The thoughts steal o'er me as I kneel

Before thy Son and thee,

That thou must suffer all thy life,

And He must die for me.

I look upon that lovely face,

Those eyes so sweet and mild,

And gather courage as I gaze

Upon thy holy child.

His little arm thrown round thy neck,

As if to soothe thy fears,

Shows that thine infant son is grieved

To see His mother's tears.

He knows that Simeon's prophecy

Rings ever in thy mind;

The sword has opened thy large heart

To shelter all mankind.

Hence may the weary mother come

With her domestic cares;

Here may the anxious father seek

Advice in grave affairs.

The weeping child too runs to thee

In sorrow and in pain;—

No little one will have recourse

To Mary's heart in vain.

Then for my guide and advocate

Whom fitter could I choose,

Then one who never asks a thing

That Jesus can refuse?

Dear Mother, whisper to thy Son

A little prayer for me;

Thou knowest better far than I

What that request should be!