Heav’nly Fa­ther, send Thy bless­ing
On Thy child­ren ga­thered here;
May they all, Thy name con­fess­ing,
Be to Thee for ev­er dear;
May they be, like Jo­seph, lov­ing,
Dutiful, and chaste, and pure;
And their faith, like Da­vid, prov­ing,
Steadfast un­to death en­dure.

Holy Sav­ior, who in meek­ness
Didst vouch­safe a child to be,
Guide their steps, and help their weak­ness,
Bless, and make them like to Thee;
Bear Thy lambs when they are wea­ry,
In Thine arms, and at Thy breast;
Through life’s de­sert, dry and drea­ry,
Bring them to Thy heav’n­ly rest.

Spread Thy gold­en pin­ions o’er them,
Holy Spi­rit, heav’n­ly Dove,
Guide them, lead them, go be­fore them,
Give them peace, and joy, and love;
Temples of the Ho­ly Spi­rit,
May they with Thy glo­ry shine,
And im­mor­tal bliss in­her­it,
And for ev­er­more be Thine!