Forty Days and Forty Nights
Forty days and forty nights
Thou wast fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.
Sunbeams scorching all the day;
Chilly dew-drops nightly shed;
Prowling beasts about Thy way;
Stones Thy pillow; earth Thy bed.
Should not we Thy sorrow share
And from worldly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Strong with Thee to suffer pain?
Then if Satan on us press,
Jesus, Savior, hear our call!
Victor in the wilderness,
Grant we may not faint nor fall!
So shall we have peace divine:
Holier gladness ours shall be;
Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as ministered to Thee.
Keep, O keep us, Savior dear,
Ever constant by Thy side;
That with Thee we may appear
At the eternal Eastertide.
Words: George H. Smyttan, March 1856.
I’m linking this post to InSPIREd Sunday. The Angel statue was on a tomb in Italy at the Monumentale Cemetery in Milan.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Such a lovely hymn, Ellen. The words that caught my attention were, “Victor in the wilderness,
Grant we may not faint nor fall!” Thank you for sharing.
Ellen, this is just beautiful – image and words! thank you so much for this post.
Angels are a lovely attention to cemeteries, we all need an angel or two looking down on us.
Beautiful sculpture.
Beautifull looking Angel. Never heard that hymn before
I am not familiar with this hymn but wonderful words.
I’d like to encounter such a nice angel here in the Negev desert.
Hope you make that mosaic, Ellen. 🙂
Beautiful statue with calm pretty face.
Such a beautiful angel statue….and, beautiful words in the hymn. Thanks for your comment on my blog.
I’ve never heard of this hymn but I like the words. Your angel is lovely.
A pretty picture of this beautiful angel accompanied by fine words.