Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.
Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.
Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!
Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The kindling of the heaven descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.
George Croly was born this date 8/17/1780 at Dublin, Ireland. He graduated from Dublin University with an MA 1804 and took holy orders. He worked in Ireland until about 1810 when he moved to London and devoted himself to literature. In 1819 he married Margaret Helen Begbie. 1831 saw him receive the LLD from Dublin University. In 1835, he became associated with St. Stephen’s, Walbrook, and St. Benet Sherehog. He produced numerous prose works in addition to contributions to Blackwood’s Magazine. Croly penned at least six other songs before his death (11/24/1860) at Holborn, England.
His “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” (1854) is remembered more than his various biographical, historical, and religious writings. Oh, how a man’s fame can rest on one poem even one line.
Separate-Holy 