Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Hail, thou Star of Ocean

Traditional

“Hail, thou Star of Ocean” as printed in Catholic Hymns (1860) (1860).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 326 1860 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Catholic Hymns (1860), a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Hail, thou Star of Ocean,

Portal of the sky,

Ever Virgin Mother

Of the Lord most high!

Verse 2

Oh, by Gabriel's Ave,

Utter'd long ago,

Eva's name reversing,

'Stablish peace below.

Verse 3

Break the captive's fetters,

Light on darkness pour;

All our ills expelling,

Every bliss implore.

Verse 4

Show thyself a mother,

Offer Him our sighs;

Who for us incarnate

Did not thee despise.

Verse 5

Virgin of all virgins,

To thy shelter take us;

Gentlest of the gentle,

Chaste and gentle make us.

Verse 6

Still as on we journey,

Help our weak endeavour;

Till with thee and Jesus

We rejoice for ever.

Verse 7

Through the highest heaven,

To the all-holy Three,

Father, Son, and Spirit,

One same glory be.

Credits

Written by Traditional

Traditional words. Historical text published in Catholic Hymns (1860) (1860); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Catholic Hymns (1860) (1860), “Hail, thou Star of Ocean”

The 1860 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; other entries are held.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-25. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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