Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Hymn of St. Francis Xavier

Traditional

“Hymn of St. Francis Xavier” as printed in Catholic Hymns (1860) (1860).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 329 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

My God, I love Thee, not because

I hope for Heaven thereby;

Nor because they who love Thee not,

Must burn eternally.

Verse 2

Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me

Upon the Cross embrace;

For me didst bear the nails and spear,

And manifold disgrace;

Verse 3

And griefs and torments numberless,

And sweat of agony;

E'en death itself—and all for one

Who was Thine enemy.

Verse 4

Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ!

Should I not love Thee well?

Not for the sake of winning Heaven,

Or of escaping Hell;

Verse 5

Not with the hope of gaining aught;

Not seeking a reward;

But, as Thyself hast loved me,

O ever-loving Lord.

Verse 6

E'en so I love Thee, and will love,

And in Thy Praise will sing;

Solely because Thou art my God,

And my eternal King.

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), “Hymn of St. Francis Xavier”

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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