O Merciful Creator, Hear

The Transfiguration: Gospel for the 2nd Sunday of Lent

Last weekend we spoke of how important sacred hymns are both in the Church and in our community. We shared with you one of the hymns we sing before Lauds during the Lenten Season, and wished to share other hymns for the Divine Office on each Sunday during.

On this Second Sunday of Lent, we share with you a hymn we sing before Vespers, "O Merciful Creator, Hear." We pray the texts of this hymn can add to your Lenten meditation on the outpouring of God's mercy toward us who are sinners and are in need of an abundance of grace - for this we fast and pray for 40 days. 

O Merciful Creator, Hear

O merciful Creator, hear! 
To us in pity bow Thine ear: 
Accept the tearful prayer we raise
In this our fast of forty days.

Our hearts are open, Lord to Thee;
Thou knowst our infirmity;
Pour out on all who seek Thy face
Abundance of Thy pard'ning grace.

Our sins are many, this we know; 
Spare us, good Lord, Thy mercy show;
And for the honor of Thy Name
Our fainting souls to life reclaim.

Give us the self-control that springs
From discipline of outward things,
That fasting inward secretly
The soul may purely dwell with THee.

We pray thee, Holy Trinity, 
One God, unchanging Unity,
That we, from this our abstinence
May reap the fruits of penitence.

Amen.
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Chanting often lends itself to contemplation. Since we were able to find a recording of the hymn (though sung in a slightly different tone then we sing and sung in Latin) we wanted to provide a link for you.