For the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth,For the beauty of the skies,For the love which from our birthOver and around us lies,

Refrain, after each verseFather, unto thee we raiseThis our sacrifice of praise.

For the beauty of each hourOf the day and of the night,Hill and vale, and tree, and flower,Sun and moon, and stars of light,

For the joy of ear and eye.For the heart and mind's delight,For the mystic harmonyLinking sense to sound and sight,

For the joy of human love,Brother, sister, parent, child,Friends on earth, and friends above,For all gentle thoughts and mild.

For each perfect gift of thine,To our race so freely given,Graces human and divine,Flowers of earth, and buds of heaven,

For thy Church that evermoreLifteth holy hands above,Offering up on every shoreIts pure sacrifice of love,