Edward Caswall

Edward Caswall Poems

Edward Caswall Biography

Edward Caswall was an Anglican clergyman and hymn writer who converted to Roman Catholicism. He was born at Yateley (35 m. w.s.w. of London), Hampshire, July 15, 1814 son of Rev. R. C. Caswall, sometime Vicar of Yately, Hampshire. He died at the Oratory, Edgbaston, near Birmingham, January 2, 1878 and was buried at Rednal, near Bromsgrove. Caswall studied at Brasenose College, Oxford (B.A., 1836; M.A., 1838). He graduated in 1836 with honors. He was curate of Stratford-sub-Castle, near Salisbury, 1840–47. In 1850, his wife having died the previous year, he joined the Oratory of St. Philip Neri under Newman, to whose influence his conversion to Roman Catholicism was due. He wrote original poems that have mainly survived only in Catholic hymnals due to a clear adherence to Catholic doctrine. Caswell is best known for his translations from the Roman Breviary and other Latin sources, which are marked by faithfulness to the original and purity of rhythm. They were published in Lyra Catholica, containing all the breviary and missal hymns (London, 1849); The Masque of Mary (1858); and A May Pageant (1865). Hymns and Prose (1873) are the three books combined with many of the hymns rewritten or revised.)

The Best Poem Of Edward Caswall

My God, I Love Thee

My God, I love thee! not because
I hope for heaven thereby;
Nor because those who love thee not
Must burn eternally.

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,
Yea, death itself,--and all for one
That was thine enemy.

Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ,
Should I not love thee well?
Not for the hope of winning heaven,
Nor of escaping hell;

Not with the hope of gaining aught,
Not seeking a reward;
But as thyself hast loved me,
O everlasting 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.

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