“Lead Kindly Light”. Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman.

Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman.

Illustration: CATHOLICISM PURE AND SIMPLE

Lead Kindly Light.

Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, 

Lead me Thou on ! 

The night is dark, and I am far from home, 

Lead Thou me on ! Keep Thou my feet; 

I do not ask to see the distant scene; 

one step is enough for me. I was not ever thus, 

nor pray’d that Thou shouldst lead me on; 

I loved to choose and see my path, 

but now lead Thou me on ! 

I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, 

pride ruled my will: Remember not past years. 

So long Your power hath Blest me, 

sure it still will lead me on, o’er moor and fen, 

o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone; 

and with the morn those angel faces smile 

which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.