O Je­su Christ, from Thee be­gan
This heal­ing for the soul for man,
By fast­ing sought, by fast­ing found
Through for­ty days of year­ly round;

That he who fell from high de­light,
Borne down to sen­su­al appetite,
By dint of stern con­trol may rise
To climb the hills of pa­ra­dise.

Therefore be­hold Thy Church, O Lord,
And grace of pe­ni­tence ac­cord
To all who seek with ge­ne­rous tears
Renewal of their wast­ed years.

Forgive the sin that we have done,
Forgive the course that we have run,
And show hence­forth in ev­il day
Thyself our suc­cor and our stay.

But now let ev­ery heart pre­pare,
By sac­ri­fice of fast and pray­er,
To keep with joy mag­ni­fi­cal
The so­lemn East­er fes­tiv­al.

Father and Son and Spi­rit blest,
To Thee be ev­ery pray­er ad­dressed,
Who art in three­fold name ad­ored,
From age to age, the on­ly Lord.