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St. Peter's Day.

How many gifts, most excellent, Almighty God, hast Thou not sent! By love divine, through Thy dear Son, great gifts of grace Saint Peter won. Thy gracious care the Apostle kept when wearied on the earth he slept, and left his master all alone Gethsemane’s dread shades to own. To him who thrice denied his Lord, by Thy dear Son Thou didst accord the thricecommanded ward to keep, to feed the lambs, to guard the sheep. Thus, on Saint Peter didst Thou shower Gifts of the Holy Ghost with power; with constant care to lead the flock to pasture by the living Rock. As he Thy Holy Church once fed, on whom such gifts of grace were shed; we pray Thee now for all who share the Pastor’s charge, the Bishop’s care. Their Guide, their Strength, vouchsafe to be, bless them in all their ministry; give diligence, and love, and power, For all their work, in every hour. Give grace, O Lord, to those who hear, to follow in Thy holy fear; by meek obedience, faith, and love, to gain a crown of light above! Unto Thy faithful Pastors, Lord, Thy promised recompense afford; be here on earth their joy begun, by fight well fought, by race well run. Then give them in eternal light, like suns to burn before Thy sight; and crown, of joy by love divine, our souls as stars around to shine. Give glory to our God above, give glory to his endless love, give glory all the Church’s Host To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

1 How many gifts, most excellent, Almighty God, hast Thou not sent!
By love divine, through Thy dear Son, great gifts of grace Saint Peter won.
Thy gracious care the Apostle kept when wearied on the earth he slept,
and left his master all alone Gethsemane’s dread shades to own.
2 To him who thrice denied his Lord, by Thy dear Son Thou didst accord
the thricecommanded ward to keep, to feed the lambs, to guard the sheep.
Thus, on Saint Peter didst Thou shower Gifts of the Holy Ghost with power;
with constant care to lead the flock to pasture by the living Rock.
3 As he Thy Holy Church once fed, on whom such gifts of grace were shed;
we pray Thee now for all who share the Pastor’s charge, the Bishop’s care.
Their Guide, their Strength, vouchsafe to be, bless them in all their ministry;
give diligence, and love, and power, For all their work, in every hour.
4 Give grace, O Lord, to those who hear, to follow in Thy holy fear;
by meek obedience, faith, and love, to gain a crown of light above!
Unto Thy faithful Pastors, Lord, Thy promised recompense afford;
be here on earth their joy begun, by fight well fought, by race well run.
5 Then give them in eternal light, like suns to burn before Thy sight;
and crown, of joy by love divine, our souls as stars around to shine.
Give glory to our God above, give glory to his endless love,
give glory all the Church’s Host To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

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Text attr. Eliza Humphreys
Tune Peterborough
John Goss (1800-1880)

St. Peter's Day.

O Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock; make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and thy people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.