Scripture Verse

Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20

Introduction

Words: Fran­ces Freer, in the Ca­tho­lic Apos­to­lic Hymns for the Use of the Church­es, 1871.

Music: La­cry­mæ Ar­thur S. Sul­li­van, 1872 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Freer (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900)

Lyrics

Present with the two or three,
Deign, most gra­cious God, to be,
While we lift our souls to Thee.

Jesus, by Thy blood alone,
Who didst for our sins atone,
Dare we come be­fore Thy throne.

Thou who know­est all our need,
Grant the pray­er of faith to plead,
Teach us how to in­ter­cede.

Thou hast led us in the way,
And hast taught us how to say,
Abba, Fa­ther! when we pray.

Holy Spir­it, from on high,
Helping our in­fir­mi­ty,
Aid us in our fee­ble cry.

Flesh and heart would faint and fail,
But there stands with­in the veil
One who ev­er doth pre­vail.

Glory to the Fa­ther, Son,
Holy Spir­it, Three in One,
While the end­less ag­es run.