Bi Iosa Am Chroise

I was trawling Youtube to find a version of the Advent hymn "O Comfort My People" when I came across this beautiful rendition of "Bi Iosa Am Chroise"which uses the same tune.



Lyrics:

Bí, Íosa, im chroíse i gcuimhne gach uair,
Bí, Íosa, im chroíse le haithrí go luath
Bí, Íosa, im chroíse le cumann go buan
ó, a íosa 'Dhé dhílis, ná scar Thusa uaim.

[ Missing from this rendition:
Gan íosa mo smaointe ní thaithníonn liom féin,
Gan íosa mo scríbhinn ná foghar mo bhéil,
Gan íosa mo ghníomhartha ní maith insan tsaol,
ó, a íosa 'Dhé dhílis, bí romham is am dhéidh.

Sé íosa mo ríse, mo chara 's mo ghrá,
Sé íosa mo dhídean ar pheaca 's ar bhás,
Sé íosa mo aoibhneas, mo scáthán do ghnáth,
A's, a íosa, 'Dhé dhilis, ná scar uaim go bráth.
]

Bí, a íosa, go síoraí im chroí is im bhéal,
Bí, a íosa, go síoraí im thuigse mar an gcéann',
Bí, a íosa, go síoraí im mheabhair mar léann,
ó, a íiosa, 'Dhé dhílis, ná fág mé liom féin.


Rough translation:

Be, Jesus, in my heart in memory every hour,
Be, Jesus, in my heart with speedy repentance,
Be, Jesus, in my heart with everlasting fellowship
O, Jesus, true/faithful God, don't depart from me

[ Missing from this rendition:
Without Jesus my thoughts don't illuminate me,
Without Jesus my scripture doesn't sound from my mouth
Without Jesus my deeds do no good in life
O Jesus, faithful God, be before me and after/behind me.

Jesus is my king, my friend and my love
Jesus is my shelter from sin and death
Jesus is my delight, my constant mirror
Ah Jesus, faithful God, never part from me.
]

Be, Jesus, eternally in my heart and in my mouth
Be, Jesus, eternally in my understanding and my head,
Be, Jesus, eternally in my mind and my learning,
O Jesus, faithful God, don't leave me alone.

First Sunday of Advent

My favourite Advent hymn, "O Comfort My People" written by the Cistercian, Fr Chrysogonus Waddell. The tune the traditional Irish melody "Bi Iosa Am Chroise" with words taken from Isaiah 40:1-2.4.9

O comfort my people
and calm all their fear,
and tell them the time of
salvation draws near
O tell them I come
to remove all their shame
Then they will forever
give praise to my name.

Proclaim to the cities
of Juda my word:
that gentle yet strong is
the hand of the Lord.
I rescue the captives,
my people defend
and bring them to justice
and joy without end.

All mountains and hill shall
become as a plain
for vanished are mourning
and hunger and pain.
And never again shall
these war against you.
Behold I come quickly
to make all things new.

Words (c) Chrysogonus Waddell and Mount St. Joseph's Abbey Harmoney (c) McCromman Publishing Co. Ltd.,

Here is a version with the lyrics included.