Traditional Catholic prayer
St. Francis Xavier’s Hymn of Love
A hymn traditionally attributed to St. Francis Xavier, expressing love of God for His own sake and gratitude for Christ’s Passion.
Source: With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections (1911), Rev. F. X. Lasance, pages 767-768.
O God, I love Thee for Thyself, And not that I may heaven gain, Nor because those who love Thee not, Must suffer hell’s eternal pain.
Thou, O my Jesus! Thou didst me Upon the cross embrace; For me didst bear the nails and spear And manifold disgrace; And griefs and torments numberless, And sweat of agony; E’en death itself, and all for one Who was Thine enemy.
Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ, Should I not love Thee well: Not for the sake of winning heaven, Or of escaping hell; Not with the hope of gaining aught, Not seeking a reward; But, as Thyself hast loved me, O ever-loving Lord?
E’en so I love Thee, and will love, And in Thy praise will sing; Solely because Thou art my God And my eternal King.
About this prayer
Prayer source
With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections (1911), Rev. F. X. Lasance, pages 767-768.
View the printed prayer page.About our prayer sources- What it is
- Lasance prints this hymn under St. Francis Xavier’s name. It expresses love of God for His own sake, recalling Christ’s suffering on the Cross. The heading supports a traditional attribution, not a claim of a documented favorite.
- Prayer intention
- Love of God for His own sake.
- When to pray
- As a slow prayer of love and gratitude, especially while reflecting on the Cross.
- Connection with a saint
St. Francis Xavier: Traditional attribution. With God (1911), page 767, names St. Francis Xavier in the heading of this prayer. Read the source.
- Languages
- English
- English prayer source
- With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections (1911), Rev. F. X. Lasance, pages 767-768. View the historical source. View the printed prayer page. Novena Regina provides the explanations above. The prayer text follows the source named here.
Traditional Catholic prayer
St. Francis Xavier’s Hymn of Love
Source: With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections (1911), Rev. F. X. Lasance, pages 767-768.
O God, I love Thee for Thyself, And not that I may heaven gain, Nor because those who love Thee not, Must suffer hell’s eternal pain.
Thou, O my Jesus! Thou didst me Upon the cross embrace; For me didst bear the nails and spear And manifold disgrace; And griefs and torments numberless, And sweat of agony; E’en death itself, and all for one Who was Thine enemy.
Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ, Should I not love Thee well: Not for the sake of winning heaven, Or of escaping hell; Not with the hope of gaining aught, Not seeking a reward; But, as Thyself hast loved me, O ever-loving Lord?
E’en so I love Thee, and will love, And in Thy praise will sing; Solely because Thou art my God And my eternal King.