This is another song from the Living Parish Hymn Book that was also used in the Praise to God parish hymn book. The text is C19 by Frederick William Faber and set to the C18 German tune PADERBORN.
“O Purest of Creatures” is a sentimental Marian hymn that is not my cup of tea at all – Presbyterian upbringing etc – but I’m sure has its fans. Then again Faber was raised a strict Calvanist and was a late onset Catholic, so we have that in common. I have found several variations on the words, so below is that found in PTG.
1 O purest of creatures! sweet Mother, sweet Maid;
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid.
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother, and we
Look out for thy shining, Sweet Star of the Sea.2 Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world,
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church, all her eyes are on thee;
They look for thy shining, Sweet Star of the Sea.3 He gazed on thy soul, it was spotless and fair;
For the empire of sin it had never been there;
None ever had owned thee, dear mother, but He,
And her blessed thy clear shining, Sweet Star of the Sea.4 Earth gave Him one lodging; ‘twas deep in they breast,
And God found a home where the sinner finds rest;
His home and His hiding place, both were in thee;
He was won by thy shining, Sweet Star of the Sea.5 Oh! blissful and calm was the wonderful rest
That thou gavest thy God in thy virginal breast;
For the heaven He left He found heaven in thee;
And He shone in thy shining, Sweet Star of the Sea.