It fascinates me that the original (Italian) words to I Dwell a Captive in This Heart were written by St. Alphonsus Liguori (+1787). The hymnals it appears in are all out of print, but when I saw that the author of The Glories of Mary and Visits to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary had written a hymn, I just HAD to learn it!
Maybe one reason this hymn hasn’t maintained popularity in a liturgical setting is because most of the melodies I found for it were very sentimental.
There’s nothing wrong with sentimental devotional hymns outside of Mass, by the way! Some of my most favorite hymns were learned at Morning Star Camp, where we sung hymns around the camp fire and after night prayers.
There were two melodies I found that have a more traditional, enduring sound. Pick for yourself the one you like best!
The original score from the Parish Hymnal (1915) is found here on Hymnary.org.
There was nothing in the Parish Hymnal indicating who composed the melody, so for now, it is by “Author Unknown.” Interestingly, though, the Preface states that “no tunes of non-Catholic origin” were “knowingly incorporated.” How many hymnals today can boast the same?
And constant joy is mine.
Here burns with love of me.
I fear no earthly foes.
When crosses fall on me.
Thy Heart in pledge hast giv’n.
The world I now despise.
Must banish from his breast.
This is not the only hymn by St. Alphonsus! See a list here and here. Another hymn on this blog by St. Alphonsus is Glory Be to Jesus.
So thrilled to see you have a song by St Alphonsus Liguori. My mother grew up hearing another of his hymns every Christmas “Tu Scende Dalle Stelle” which my daughter learned at her Italian preschool. Translations are nice but not quite the original Italian, a beautiful meditation on Christ’s incarnation, Who humbled Himself to share our humanity. Looking forward to music lessons with you this year. God bless you and thank you for doing this!
Thank you, Nora! I love hearing about hymns that are family favorites! I did a quick search for the Christmas hymn by St. Alphonsus; I’m very sure that our choir sings this every year! It is very sweet, and as you said, the words are a meditation in themselves. I’ll add to my list of songs that I want to add to the site! God bless you and your family!
Happy Feast Day, St. Alphonsus!