Jesu, dulcis amor meus. [Passiontide.] This hymn is almost entirely composed of separate lines transposed and in some instances altered from St. Bernard's "Salve mundi salutare" (q. v.). It is the hymn at Lauds in the Office of the "Most Holy Winding Sheet of our Lord Jesus Christ; double of the First Class." This office has been added to the Roman Breviary since 1736, and is appointed for the Saturday after the 2nd Sunday in Lent. The text is found in the Appendix to the Pars Verna of the Roman Breviary, Bologna, 1827, p. cclxxviii., and is repeated in later editions and in Daniel, iv. p. 323. Translated as:—
Jesu, as though Thyself wert here. By E. Caswall. Published in his Lyra Catholica, 1849, p. 82; and again in his Hymns & Poems, 1873, p. 46. It is found in several hymn-books, and often with the omission of stanza ii. Another translation is "Jesus, sweetest love of mine.' 1874. J. Wallace. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Edward Caswall was born in 1814, at Yately, in Hampshire, where his father was a clergyman. In 1832, he went to Brasenose College, Oxford, and in 1836, took a second-class in classics. His humorous work, "The Art of Pluck," was published in 1835; it is still selling at Oxford, having passed through many editions. In 1838, he was ordained Deacon, and in 1839, Priest. He became perpetural Curate of Stratford-sub-Castle in 1840. In 1841, he resigned his incumbency and visited Ireland. In 1847, he joined the Church of Rome. In 1850, he was admitted into the Congregation of the Oratory at Birmingham, where he has since remained. He has published several works in prose and poetry.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files