You Only Will Be My Crown

For You, O Christ, I renounce the world
And You only will be my crown
And You only will be my crown
And You only will be my crown

For You, O Christ, I despise the world
All its riches I cast off as loss
Its fame, recognition, and values
And I follow You, Christ, to the cross
And You only will be my crown

For You, O Christ, I renounce my life
And You only will be my crown
And You only will be my crown
And You only will be my crown

For You, O Christ, I despise my life
All my blood I will pour for You
And disregard the call of the flesh
As I follow You, Christ, to the cross
And You only will be my crown

For You, O Christ, I despise the rest
And You only will be my crown
And You only will be my crown
And You only will be my crown

For You, O Christ, I will hate the rest
And I will scorn every other call
That leads me not to You, hate my life
For I follow You, Christ, to the cross
And You only will be my crown

For You, O Christ, I will hate my life
And You only will be my crown
And You only will be my crown
And You only will be my crown

For You, O Christ, I will give my life
For I follow You, Christ, to the cross
And You only will be my crown
O Crucified One
You only will be my crown
And I will be Yours
You only will be my crown

Jesus Christ is the crown. The crown of the virgin is Christ. The crown of the martyr is Christ. The crown of the missionary is Christ. The crown of perseverance is Christ. The crown of marriage is Christ. The crown of life is Christ. We seek no other or greater crown than Christ. To do so for any crown other than Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, is to be untrue to the very defining heart of Christian virginity, Christian martyrdom, Christian missions, Christian marriage, Christian perseverance.