Jesus, I love thee, not because
I hope for heaven thereby,
Nor yet because, if I love not,
I must forever die.
I love thee, Saviour dear, and still
I ever will love thee,
Solely because my God, thou art,
Who first hast loved me.
For me to lowest depth of woe
Thou didst thyself abase;
For me didst bear the cross and shame,
And manifold disgrace;
For me didst suffer pain unknown,
Blood-sweat and agony--
Yea, death itself--all, all for me,
Who was thine enemy.
Then why, O blessed Saviour mine.
Should I not love thee well?
Not for the sake of winning heaven
Nor of escaping hell.
Not with the hope of gaining aught,
Nor seeking a reward;
But freely, fully, as thyself
Hast loved me, O Lord!
Even so I love thee, and will love,
And in thy praise will sing,
Solely because thou art my God
And my eternal king.
--Francis Xavier.