Respite Under Arches

O house of splendor, temple divine
With vaults that in gilded radiance shine!  
Thy arches soar, as prayers take flight
To pierce the veil of the eternal night

Thy pillars, twelve, as prophets of old
Proclaim the truths in stories told
Each stone a witness, each wall a creed
To Him who hath met our every need

The rose-hued glass, in splendor bright
Transforms the sun to heavenly light
Its beams cascade in hallowed streams
As angels sing of sacred dreams

The sacred font, in marble hewn
Doth whisper of the coming boon
Its waters cleanse, its promise clear
A fount of grace to banish fear

And lo! Above, where the heavens gleam
St Louis smiles on this holy dream
His spirit guards with saintly grace
This house of God, this hallowed space

O Lord, enthroned in glory high
Thy throne below doth glorify
This consecration, this joy-filled hour
Reflects Thy truth, Thy boundless power

O Christ, the cornerstone most sure
In Thee all beauty doth endure
This house, a glimpse of realms unseen
A foretaste of the Kingly sheen

Rejoice, O faithful, and raise the song
For here the saints and angels throng
This house of God, forever blest
In Thee, O Lord, finds peace and rest