Dei qui gratiam impotes [S. Joseph.] In the Raccolta di Orazioni (see p. 1548, ii.), edition Rome, 1837, p. 398, there is an office of St. Joseph (with this hymn at p. 406), indulged by Pope Pius VII. in a rescript of June 2G, 1809. The hymn is probably little, if any, older than 1800. Translated as:—
Seek ye the grace of God, by E. Caswall, in the Birmingham Oratory Hymn Book, 1857, No. 46 (1906, No. 63), in his Masque of Mary, 1858, p. 318, &c. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
Edward Caswall was born in 1814, at Yately, in Hampshire, where his father was a clergyman. In 1832, he went to Brasenose College, Oxford, and in 1836, took a second-class in classics. His humorous work, "The Art of Pluck," was published in 1835; it is still selling at Oxford, having passed through many editions. In 1838, he was ordained Deacon, and in 1839, Priest. He became perpetural Curate of Stratford-sub-Castle in 1840. In 1841, he resigned his incumbency and visited Ireland. In 1847, he joined the Church of Rome. In 1850, he was admitted into the Congregation of the Oratory at Birmingham, where he has since remained. He has published several works in prose and poetry.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >
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