Hymn: Once more the solemn season calls
- Title:
- First Line: Once more the solemn season calls
- Hymnal: Hymnal: according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America
- Denomination: (Protestant) Episcopal Church
- Publisher: Remsen & Haffelfinger
- Publication Date: 1871
Author(s)
- Author Name: Charles Coffin
- Born: 1676
- Died: 1749
- Gender: M
- Author Name: John Chandler
- Born: 1806
- Died: 1876
- Gender: M
Full Text
1 Once more the solemn season calls A holy fast to keep; And now within the temple walls Both priest and people weep. 2 But vain all outward sign of grief, And vain the form of prayer, Unless the heart implore relief, And penitence be there. 3 We smite the breast, we weep in vain, In vain in ashes mourn, Unless with penitential pain The smitten soul be torn. 4 In sorrow true then let us pray To our offended God, From us to turn His wrath away, And stay the uplifted rod. 5 O God, our Judge and Father, deign To spare the bruis'd reed; We pray for time to turn again, For grace to turn indeed. 6 Blest Three in One, to Thee we bow; Vouchsafe us in Thy love To gather from these fasts below Immortal fruit above.