Scripture Verse

Jesus said to her, Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. John 20:17

Introduction

portrait
Christopher Wordsworth
(1807–1885)

Words: Chris­to­pher Words­worth, The Ho­ly Year (Lon­don: Riv­ing­tons, 1862), num­ber 48. The third verse was add­ed in the 1863 edi­tion.

Music: Dix Con­rad Koch­er, Stim­men aus dem Reiche Gott­es, 1838 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
Conrad Kocher (1786–1872)

Lyrics

Touch Me not, to Ma­ry said
Jesus, ris­en from the dead;
For as yet I am not gone
Upward to My heav’n­ly throne;
Quit Me; bid My breth­ren know,
To My God and theirs I go.

We who, Lord, Thy God­head have,
Carnal pre­sence do not crave;
Faith Thee sees in Hea­ven stand,
Faith Thee touch­es with her hand;
We with hearts and minds arise,
And we touch Thee in the skies.

Hearts and minds to Thee arise,
Touching Thee above the skies;
Touching Thee when of­fer­ing there
Incense of pre­vail­ing pray­er;
Pleading in Thy Fa­ther’s eyes
Thine aton­ing sac­ri­fice.

Give us grace to touch aright,
Live by faith and not by sight,
So, when earth­ly storms are o’er,
May we reach the peace­ful shore,
And may there Thy glo­ry see,
Dwelling ev­er, Lord, with Thee.

illustration
Noli Me Tangere
William Brassey Hole (1846–1917)