Within the Church’s sacred fold,
By holy sacrament enrolled,
Another lamb we lay:
An heir before of sin and shame,
Now in the holy triune Name
His guilt is washed away.
O loving Father, Thee we pray
Look on this babe newborn today,
Thine own adopted child;
An angel guard do Thou bestow
To lead him in Thy paths below,
And guide him through the wild.
O God the Son, Thou heavenly Vine,
Protect this tender branch of Thine
Through all that may betide;
Forever nourished may he be
With sap divine that flows from Thee,
In Thee for aye abide.
Blest Spirit, whose indwelling grace
Has given this little one a place
Among the heirs of life;
O breathe Thy sevenfold gifts within,
And keep Thy temple pure from sin
In midst of worldly strife.
So, holy Trinity, by Thee
Divinely trained this babe may be
In faith and hope and love;
So may he gain, earth’s waves o’erpast,
His bright inheritance at last
With all Thy saints above.