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data/data/st_therese_of_lisieux.txt

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+Would you live, one happy moment,
+lifted between earth and heaven;
+Feel an atmosphere supernal
+all about you gently rise;
+See the world beneath your feet and
+walk mid radiant Pleiads seven;
+And believe an angel walks beside you,
+from more radiant skies?
+Read these songs of love with reverence;
+let no idle glance profane
+These sublimely simple pages,
+seek their mystic sense to know;
+But learn humbly that in convents
+Love Divine as King doth reign,
+And, within their deep seclusion,
+hearts with joy are all aglow.
+Lovely flower, soul celestial!
+fifteen years at home you grew;
+Then you gave your heart to Jesus,
+fresh with its baptismal dew;
+And the Sovereign Pontiff blessed this
+lovely lily, that we know
+As a nun whose wondrous sweetness,
+heavenly, angelic ways,
+Lyric songs of rapturous music, --
+everything about her -- says
+That an angel passed through Carmel,
+just a few short years ago.
+Oh! how I love Thee, Jesus! my soul aspires to Thee --
+And yet for one day only my simple prayer I pray!
+Come reign within my heart, smile tenderly on me,
+To-day, dear Lord, to-day.
+But if I dare take thought of what the morrow brings --
+That fills my fickle heart with dreary, dull dismay;
+I crave, indeed, my God, trials and sufferings,
+But only for to-day!
+O sweetest Star of heaven! O Virgin, spotless, blest,
+Shining with Jesus' light, guiding to Him my way!
+O Mother! neath thy veil let my tired spirit rest,
+For this brief passing day!
+Soon shall I fly afar among the holy choirs,
+Then shall be mine the joy that never knows decay;
+And then my lips shall sing, to heaven's angelic lyres,
+The eternal, glad To-day!
+The eve His life of love drew near its end,
+Thus Jesus spoke: "Whoever loveth Me,
+And keeps My word as Mine own faithful friend,
+My Father, then and I his guests will be;
+Within his heart will make Our dwelling above.
+Our palace home, true type of heaven above.
+There, filled with peace, We will that he shall rest,
+With us, in love.
+Incarnate Word! Thou Word of God alone!
+To live of love, tis to abide with Thee.
+Thou knowest I love Thee, Jesus Christ, my Own!
+Thy Spirit's fire of love enkindleth me.
+By loving Thee, I draw the Father here
+Down to my heart, to stay with me always.
+Blest Trinity! Thou art my prisoner dear,
+Of love, to-day.
+To live of love, 'tis by Thy life to live,
+O glorious King, my chosen, sole Delight!
+Hid in the Host, how often Thou dost give
+Thyself to those who seek Thy radiant light.
+Then hid shall be my life, unmarked, unknown,
+That I may have Thee heart to heart with me;
+For loving souls desire to be alone,
+With love, and Thee!
+To live of love, 'tis not to fix one's tent
+On Tabor's height and there with Thee remain.
+Tis to climb Calvary with strength nigh spent,
+And count Thy heavy cross our truest gain.
+In heaven, my life a life of joy shall be,
+The heavy cross shall then be gone for aye.
+Here upon earth, in suffering with Thee,
+Love! let me stay.
+To live of love, 'tis without stint to give,
+An never count the cost, nor ask reward;
+So, counting not the cost, I long to live
+And show my dauntless love for Thee, dear Lord!
+O Heart Divine, o'erflowing with tenderness,
+How swift I run, who all to Thee has given!
+Naught but Thy love I need, my life to bless.
+That love is heaven!
+To live of love, it is to know no fear;
+No memory of past faults can I recall;
+No imprint of my sins remaineth here;
+The fire of Love divine effaces all.
+O sacred flames! O furnace of delight!
+I sing my safe sweet happiness to prove.
+In these mild fires I dwell by day, by night.
+I live of love!
+To live of love, 'tis in my heart to guard
+A mighty treasure in a fragile vase.
+Weak, weak, am I, O well-beloved Lord!
+Nor have I yet an angel's perfect grace.
+But, if I fall each hour that hurries by,
+Thou com'st to me from Thy bright home above,
+And, raising me, dost give me strength to cry:
+I live of love!
+To live of love it is to sail afar
+And bring both peace and joy where'er I be.
+O Pilot blest! love is my guiding star;
+In every soul I meet, Thyself I see.
+Safe sail I on, through wind or rain or ice;
+Love urges me, love conquers every gale.
+High on my mast behold is my device:
+"By love I sail!"
+To live of love, it is when Jesus sleeps
+To sleep near Him, though stormy waves beat nigh.
+Deem not I shall awake Him! On these deeps
+Peace reigns, like that the Blessed know on high.
+To Hope, the voyage seems one little day;
+Faith's hand shall soon the veil between remove;
+Tis Charity that swells my sail alway.
+I live of love!
+To live of love, O Master dearest, best!
+It is to beg Thee light Thy holiest fires
+Within the soul of each anointed priest,
+Till he shall feel the Seraphim's desires;
+It is to beg Thee guard Thy Church, O Christ!
+For this I plead with Thee by night, by day;
+And give myself, in sacrifice unpriced,
+With love alway!
+To live of love, it is to dry Thy tears,
+To seek for pardon for each sinful soul,
+To strive to save all men from doubts and fears,
+And bring them home to Thy benign control.
+Comes to my ear sin's wild and blasphemous roar;
+So, to efface each day, that burning shame,
+I cry: " O Jesus Christ! I Thee adore.
+I love Thy Name!"
+To live of love, 'tis Mary's part to share,
+To bathe with tears and odorous perfume
+Thy holy feet, to wipe them with my hair,
+To kiss them; then still loftier lot assume, --
+To rise, and by Thy side to take my place,
+And pour my ointments on Thy holy head.
+But with no balsams I embalm Thy Face!
+'Tis love, instead!
+"To live of love, -- what foolishness she sings!"
+So cries the world. "Renounce such idle joy!
+Waste not thy perfumes on such trivial things.
+In useful arts thy talents now employ!"
+To love Thee, Jesus! Ah, this loss is gain;
+For all my perfumes no reward seek I.
+Quitting the world, I sing in death's sweet pain:
+Of love I die!
+To die of love, O martyrdom most blest!
+For this I long, this is my heart's desire;
+My exile ends; I soon will be at rest.
+Ye Cherubim, lend, lend to me your lyre!
+O dart of Seraphim, O flame of love,
+Consume me wholly; hear my ardent cry!
+Jesu, make real my dream! Come Holy Dove!
+Of love I die!
+To die of love, behold my life's long hope!
+God is my one exceeding great reward.
+He of my wishes forms the end and scope;
+Him only do I seek; my dearest Lord.
+With passionate love for Him my heart is riven.
+O may He quickly come! He draweth nigh!
+Behold my destiny, behold my heaven, --
+OF LOVE TO DIE.
+Dear Jesus! tis Thy Holy Face
+Is here the start that guides my way;
+They countenance, so full of grace,
+Is heaven on earth, for me, to-day.
+And love finds holy charms for me
+In Thy sweet eyes with tear-drops wet;
+Through mine own tears I smile at Thee,
+And in Thy griefs my pains forget.
+How gladly would I live unknown,
+Thus to console Thy aching heart.
+Thy veiled beauty, it is shown
+To those who live from earth apart.
+I long to fly to Thee alone!
+Thy Face is now my fatherland, --
+The radiant sunshine of my days, --
+My realm of love, my sunlit land,
+Where, all life long, I sing Thy praise;
+It is the lily of the vale,
+Whose mystic perfume, freely given,
+Brings comfort, when I faint and fail,
+And makes me taste the peace of heaven.
+Thy face, in its unearthly grace,
+Is like the divinest myrrh to me,
+That on my heart I gladly place;
+It is my lyre of melody;
+My rest -- my comfort -- is Thy Face.
+My only wealth, Lord! is thy Face;
+I ask naught else than this from Thee;
+Hid in the secret of that Face,
+The more I shall resemble Thee!
+Oh, leave on me some impress faint
+Of Thy sweet, humble, patient Face,
+And soon I shall become a saint,
+And draw men to Thy saving grace.
+So, in the secret of Thy Face,
+Oh! hide me, hide me, Jesus blest!
+There let me find its hidden grace,
+Its holy fires, and, in heaven's rest,
+Its rapturous kiss, in Thy embrace!
+Thou, Jesu! on this day my earthly bonds hast broken.
+In Mary's Order old, my soul true goods shall find;
+And if to-day: "farewell" my quivering lips have spoken
+To those who loved me best, so dear, so true, so kind,
+Thou, Lord, wilt be to them far more than I could be;
+And Thou wilt deign to win some sinful souls through me.
+Jesu! on Carmel I shall dwell --
+Thy love has called Thy child to that oasis fair;
+There I desire to serve Thee well,
+To love Thee there, and then to die,
+There! yes, my Jesu, there!
+O Jesu! on this day, Thy love my prayer has granted;
+Before Thy altar throne hereafter tis my part
+Calmly to wait for heaven, -- all pain to bear undaunted, --
+And, lifting to the rays of Thy white Host my heart,
+Within that fire of love all self to burn away,
+And, like a seraph blest, to serve Thee night and day.
+Ah, Jesu! twill be mine -- to dwell,
+One day, with Thee on high, in heaven's bright mansions fair
+There evermore to love Thee well,
+To love Thee, and no more to die,
+There! yes, my Jesu, there!
+Recall, O Christ! the Father's glories bright,
+Recall the splendors of Thy heavenly home,
+Which Thou didst leave, to come to earth's dark night,
+And save poor sinners who in exile roam!
+Dear Jesus! bending down at Mary's humble word,
+In her Thou didst conceal Thy majesty adored.
+Now that maternal breast,
+Thy second heaven, Thy rest,
+Remember Thou!
+Remember, now, the day of Thy blest birth,
+How angels, quitting heaven, sang joyously:
+"To God be power, glory, lasting worth;
+And peace to men of good-will ever be!"
+For nineteen hundred years Thy promise Thou hast kept;
+Thy children in that peace have waked, and worked, and slept.
+To taste forever here
+Thy peace, divinely dear,
+I seek Thee now.
+Remember O Thou Babe in swaddling bands!
+Beside Thy crib I would forever stay.
+There, with Thine angels, Lord of all the lands!
+I would remind thee of that happy day.
+O Jesus! call to mind the shepherds and wise men,
+Who offered Thee their hearts, as I mine own again;
+The Babes of Bethlehem see,
+Who gave their blood for Thee.
+Remember Thou!
+Remember Thou that Mary's holy arms
+Thou didst prefer to any royal throne.
+Dear little One! she shielded Thee from harm,
+She fed Thee with her virginal milk alone.
+Oh, at that feast of love Thy mother gave to Thee,
+My little Brother, grant that I a guest may be,
+Thy little sister I.
+Oh, hear my ardent cry:
+Remember Thou!
+Remember that Thy childish voice, dear Lord!
+Called Joseph father, who, at heaven's decree,
+Prevailed to snatch Thee from the tyrant's sword,
+And sought old Egypt's far-off coast with Thee.
+O Word of God! recall what mysteries round Thee woke;
+Thou didst keep silent, Lord! the while an angel spoke.
+Thy distant, long exile
+On banks of ancient Nile,
+Remember now.
+Remember Thou that on my native shore,
+The stars of gold, the moon of silver bright,
+Which I contemplate, wondering more and more,
+Charmed in the East Thine infant eyes at night.
+That tiny hand of Thine, that stroked Thy Mother's face,
+Sustained the world, held all things in their place;
+And Thou didst think of me!
+Ah! how I think of Thee,
+Remember now.
+Remember Thou, in solitude most blest,
+Thou laboredst with Thy hands for daily bread.
+To live forgotten, -- this Thy earnest quest,
+All human wisdom trampled neath Thy tread,
+One single word of Thine could charm a listening world;
+Yet Thou Thy wisdom kept in closest silence furled.
+Thou, Who didst all things know,
+No sign of power wouldst show.
+Remember Thou!
+Remember how, -- Stranger and Pilgrim here, --
+Thou hadst no home, O Thou Eternal Word!
+Not e'en a pillow for Thy head most dear;
+Not e'en a shelter, like the flitting bird.
+O Jesu, come to me! Rest Thou upon my breast.
+Come, Come! My spirit longs to have Thee for its Guest.
+Thou well-beloved, adored!
+Rest in my heart, dear Lord,
+Ever as now!
+Remember Thou, the loving tenderness
+That Thou didst show to children seeking Thee.
+Like them I would receive Thy kind caress;
+Like them, Thy blessings, Lord, be granted me.
+That I in heaven may gain Thy welcome and Thy rest,
+Here will I practise well all childhood's virtues best.
+"The childlike soul wins heaven."
+This promise Thou hast given,
+Remember Thou!
+Remember Thou that on the fountain's brink, --
+A traveller, weary with the journey's length, --
+Thou of the sinful tenderly didst think,
+And for contrition gave her lasting strength.
+I know Thee well Who asked, of her, the draught, that day.
+Thou art "the Gift of God," the Life, the Truth the Way.
+Thou wilt not pass me by.
+I hear Thy tender cry:
+"Come to Me now!"
+"Come unto Me, poor souls with sorrow tost!
+Your heavy load My hands shall take away;
+Your griefs and pains shall be forever lost,
+Within the depths of love I feel for aye."
+I thirst, I thirst, O Christ! Nought else I seek, save Thee.
+Borne down beneath my cross, I cry: "O comfort me!"
+Be Thy dear love my home!
+I come! Yes, Lord, I come!
+Receive me now!
+Remember Thou that, though a child of light,
+Too oft, alas! I have neglected Thee.
+Take pity on me in life's dreary night;
+Oh, pardon all my sin and misery!
+Make my sad heart rejoice Thy holy will to do;
+My soul to those delights, hid in Thy gospels, woo!
+That I that book of gold
+Ever most dear did hold,
+Remember Thou!
+Remember Thou Thy holy Mother's power
+That she possesses o'er Thy Heart divine.
+Remember, at her prayer, one joyful hour,
+Thou didst change water to delicious wine.
+Deign also to transform my works, though poor they be;
+Oh, make them glorious works, when Mary pleads with Thee.
+That I am Mary's child,
+Dear Jesus, meek and mild,
+Remember Thou!
+Remember that the summits of the hills
+Thou often didst ascend at set of sun.
+Ah! how Thy prayer the long, long night-hours fills,
+Thy chants of praise when weary day is done.
+Thy prayer I offer now, with ever new delight,
+Joined to my own poor prayers, my office, day and night.
+That I, too, near Thy heart,
+Take in Thy prayer my part,
+Remember Thou!
+Remember that Thine eyes beheld the fields
+White to the harvest, -- harvest of the blest!
+Thy Heart o'er them Its mystic influence wields;
+Within that Heart is room for all, and rest.
+That soon may come for Thee Thy glorious harvest day,
+I immolate myself, I offer prayers alway.
+I give my joys, my tears,
+For thy good harvesters.
+Remember Thou!
+Recall that feast of angels in delight,
+That harmony of heaven's kingly host,
+The joy of all those choirs of spirits bright,
+When one is saved, once counted mongst the lost.
+Oh, how I would augment that joy and glory there!
+For sinners I will pray with ceaseless, ardent prayer.
+To win dear souls to heaven,
+My life and prayers are given.
+Remember Thou!
+Remember that most holy flame of love
+Thou wouldst enkindle in all hearts alway.
+To me it came from Thy fair heaven above;
+Would I could spread its fires by night and day!
+One feeble spark, dear Lord! -- O glorious mystery! --
+A fire immense can light, if fanned to flame by Thee.
+I long, Divinest Star!
+To bear Thy flames afar.
+Remember Thou!
+Remember how the festal board was graced,
+To feast the penitent returning son!
+Remember, too, the innocent soul is placed
+Ever near Thee, O Thou Beloved One!
+Unto the prodigal no welcome is denied;
+But, ah! the elder son is always at Thy side.
+Father, and Love Divine,
+All that Thou hast is mine.
+Remember Thou!
+Remember how Thou didst disdain earth's pride,
+When working miracles with God's own ease.
+"Ye who seek human praise! can ye decide
+To give your faith to mysteries like these?
+The great works that I do, (so Thou hast said, dear Lord!)
+My friends shall yet surpass, according to My word."
+How humble Thou wast then,
+Among the sons of men.
+Remember Thou!
+Remember in what rapture of delight
+The loved apostle rested on Thy Heart.
+In that deep peace he knew Thy love and might;
+Thy mysteries thence he drew, -- how strong Thou art!
+Of Thy beloved John I feel no jealousy.
+I am Thy choice; I, too, behold the mystery.
+I, too, upon Thy breast
+May have ecstatic rest.
+Remember Thou!
+Recall Thine awful hour of agony
+When blood and tears bore witness to Thy woe.
+O pearls of love! O rubies fair to see!
+Thence virginal blooms of beauty ever grow.
+An angel, showing Thee what harvest Thou shouldst reap,
+Gave gladness to Thee, then, even while Thou didst weep.
+Then truly didst Thou see,
+Amongst those lilies, me!
+Remember now!
+Thy blood, Thy tears, -- a fruitful living source,
+Those mystic flowers, makes virginal evermore;
+And to them grants a wondrous, holy force,
+For winning souls to serve Thee and adore.
+A virginal heart is mine; yet, Christ, what mystery!
+Mother of souls am I, through my chaste bond with Thee.
+These virginal flowers that bloom
+To bring poor sinners home,
+Remember Thou!
+Remember Thou, that, steeped in direst woe,
+Condemned by men, to heaven Thine eyes were raised;
+And Thou didst cry: " Soon ye My power shall know.
+Soon shall ye hear My name by angels praised! "
+Yet who believed Thee, then, the Son of God to be,
+Thy glory veiled and hid in our humanity?
+Fairest of sons of men!
+My God! I knew Thee then!
+Remember now!
+Remember that Thy dear, divinest Face,
+Even among Thy friends, was oft unknown.
+But Thou hast drawn me by its matchless grace;
+Thou knowest well I claimed it for mine own.
+I have divined its charms, tho' wet with human tears.
+Face of Eternal God! I love Thee all these years.
+Part of my name Thou art!
+Thou dost console my heart.
+Remember Thou!
+Remember Thou that amorous complaint,
+Escaping from Thy lips on Calvary's tree:
+"I thirst!" Oh, how my heart like Thine doth faint.
+Yes, yes! I share Thy burning thirst with Thee.
+The more my heart burns bright with Thy great Heart's chaste fires,
+The more I thirst for souls, to quench Thy Heart's desires.
+That with such love always
+I burn, by night, by day,
+Remember Thou!
+Remember, O my Jesu! Word of life!
+That Thou hast loved me, dying e'en for me.
+Oh, let me be with holy folly rife!
+So would I, also, live and die for Thee!
+Thou knowest, Lord! my wish, my loving heart's desire, --
+To make Thee loved, and then, in martyrdom expire.
+I long of love to die.
+O hear my ardent cry.
+Remember Thou!
+Recall that glorious, that victorious hour,
+When Thou didst say: "Happy indeed is he,
+Who has not seen My triumph and My power,
+But, seeing not, has still believed in Me."
+In faith's dim, shadowy night, I love Thee, I adore.
+Jesu, I wait in peace, till faith's long night is o'er.
+That not one wish had I
+To see Thee neath this sky,
+Remember Thou!
+Remember that ascending unto God,
+Thou wouldst not leave us orphans sad and lone,
+But didst, a Prisoner still, where we abode,
+Veil on our altars all Thy pomp, my Own!
+The shadow of Thy veil is, oh! how pure and bright,
+Thou Living Bread of faith, heaven's Food, my heart's Delight.
+O mystery of love!
+My Bread from heaven above,
+Jesus, tis Thou!
+Remember Thou, in spite of insults hurled
+Against this sacrament of love divine,
+Thou dost remain in this dull, weary world,
+And fix Thy dwelling in a heart like mine.
+O Bread of exiled souls! holy and heavenly Host!
+No more I live -- not I! in Thee my life is lost.
+Thy chosen ciborium
+Am I. Come, Jesu, come!
+My Love art Thou.
+Thy sanctuary here, dear Lord, am I,
+That evil men shall never dare molest.
+Rest in my, heart! Oh, do not pass me by!
+Thy garden I, each flower an offering blest.
+But if from me Thou turn, white Lily of the vale!
+I know too well those flowers would wither and would fail.
+Ever, Thou Lily rare!
+Bloom in my garden fair.
+My life art Thou!
+Remember that I longed upon this earth,
+To comfort Thee for sinners' scorn of Thee.
+Give me a thousand hearts to praise Thy worth.
+My Well-Beloved! abide, abide with me!
+A thousand hearts too few would be for my desire;
+Give me Thy Heart to set my longing heart on fire.
+My ardent love for Thee,
+While swift the moments flee,
+Remember Thou!
+Remember, Lord! that Thy dear will alone
+Is my sole wish, my only happiness.
+I give myself to Thee, to rest, mine Own!
+With Thee in peace, and know Thy power to bless.
+And if Thou seems't to sleep while raging waves beat high,
+In peace I still remain, without one anguished cry.
+In peace, on Thee, I wait;
+But, for th' Awakening great,
+Prepare me Thou!
+Remember how I often long and sigh
+For that last day when angels shall proclaim:
+"Time is no morel The judgment draweth nigh.
+Rise thou, to face thy judge! He calls thy name."
+Then swiftly shall I fly, past bounds of earth in space,
+To live at last within the Vision of Thy Face.
+That it alone can be
+My joy eternally,
+Remember Thou!
+Beside the tomb wept Magdalen at dawn, --
+She sought to find the dead and buried Christ;
+Nothing could fill the void now He was gone,
+No one to soothe her burning grief sufficed.
+Not even you, Archangels heaven-assigned!
+To her could bring content that dreary day.
+Your buried King, alone, she longed to find,
+And bear His lifeless body far away.
+Beside His tomb she there the last remained,
+And there again was she before the sun;
+There, too, to come to her the Saviour deigned, --
+He would not be, by her, in love outdone.
+Gently He showed her then His blessed Face,
+And one word sprang from His deep Heart's recess:
+Mary! His voice she knew, she knew its grace;
+It came with perfect peace her heart to bless.
+One day, my God! I, too, like Magdalen,
+Desired to find Thee, to draw near to Thee;
+So, over earth's immense, wide-stretching plain,
+I sought its Master and its King to see.
+Then cried I, though I saw the flowers bloom
+In beauty neath green trees and azure skies:
+O brilliant Nature! thou art one vast tomb,
+Unless God's Face shall greet my longing eyes."
+A heart I need, to soothe me and to bless, --
+A strong support that can not pass away, --
+To love me wholly, e'en my feebleness,
+And never leave me through the night or day.
+There is not one created thing below,
+Can love me truly, and can never die.
+God become man -- none else my needs can know;
+He, He alone, can understand my cry.
+Thou comprehendest all I need, dear Lord!
+To win my heart, from heaven Thou didst come;
+For me Thy blood didst shed, O King adored!
+And on our altars makest Thy home.
+So, if I may not here behold Thy Face,
+Or catch the heav'nly music of Thy Voice,
+I still can live, each moment, by Thy grace,
+And in Thy Sacred Heart I can rejoice.
+O Heart of Jesus, wealth of tenderness!
+My joy Thou art, in Thee I safely hide.
+Thou, Who my earliest youth didst charm and bless,
+Till my last evening, oh! with me abide,
+All that I had, to Thee I wholly gave,
+To Thee each deep desire of mine is known.
+Whoso his life shall lose, that life shall save; --
+Let mine be ever lost in Thine alone!
+I know it well, -- no righteousness of mine
+Hath any value in Thy searching eyes;
+Its every breath my heart must draw from Thine,
+To make of worth my life's long sacrifice.
+Thou hast not found Thine angels without taint;
+Thy Law amid the thunderbolts was given;
+And yet, my Jesus! I nor fear nor faint.
+For me, on Calvary, Thy Heart was riven.
+To see Thee in Thy glory face to face, --
+I know it well, -- the soul must pass through fires.
+Choose I on earth my purgatorial place, --
+The flaming love of Thy great Heart's desires!
+So shall my exiled soul, to death's command,
+Make answer with one cry of perfect love;
+Then flying straight to heaven its Fatherland,
+Shall reach with no delay that home above.
+Exiled afar from heaven, I still, dear Lord, can sing, --
+I, Thy betrothed, can sing the eternal hymn of love;
+For, spite of exile comes to me, on dove-like wing,
+Thy Holy Spirit's fire of rapture from above.
+Beauty supreme! my Love Thou art;
+Thyself Thou givest all to me.
+Oh, take my heart, my yearning heart, --
+Make of my life one act of love to Thee!
+Canst Thou my worthlessness efface?
+In heart like mine canst make Thy home?
+Yes, love wins love, -- O wondrous grace!
+I love Thee, love Thee! Jesu, come I
+Love that enkindleth me,
+Pierce and inflame me;
+Come, for I cry to Thee!
+Come and be mine!
+Thy love it urgeth me;
+Fain would I ever be
+Sunken and lost in Thee,
+Furnace divine!
+All pain borne for Thee
+Changes to joy for me,
+When my love flies to Thee,
+Winged like the dove.
+Heavenly Completeness,
+Infinite Sweetness,
+My soul possesseth Thee
+Here, as above.
+Heavenly Completeness,
+Infinite sweetness,
+Naught else art Thou but Love!
+In wondrous love Thou didst come down from heaven
+To immolate Thyself, O Christ, for me;
+So, in my turn, my love to Thee is given,
+I wish to suffer and to die for Thee.
+Thou, Lord, hast spoken this truth benign:
+"To die for one loved tenderly
+Of greatest love on earth is sign;"
+And now, such love is mine, --
+Such love for Thee!
+Abide, abide with me, O Pilgrim blest!
+Behind the hill fast sinks the dying day.
+Helped by Thy cross I mount the rocky crest;
+Oh, come, to guide me on my heavenward way.
+To be like Thee is my desire;
+Thy voice finds echo in my soul.
+Suffering I crave! Thy words of fire
+Lift me above earth's mire,
+And sin's control.
+Chanting Thy victories, gloriously sublime,
+The Seraphim -- all heaven -- cry to me,
+That even Thou, to conquer sin and crime,
+Upon this earth a sufferer needs must be.
+For me, upon life's dreary way,
+What scorn, what anguish, Thou didst bear
+Let me grow humble every day,
+Be least of all, alway,
+Thy lot to share!
+Ah, Christ! Thy great example teaches me
+Myself to humble, honors to despise.
+Little and low like Thee I choose to be,
+Forgetting self, so I may charm Thine eyes.
+My peace I find in solitude,
+Nor ask I more, dear Lord, than this:
+Be Thou my sole beatitude, --
+Ever, in Thee, renewed
+My joy, my bliss!
+Thou, the great God Whom earth and heaven adore,
+Thou dwellest a prisoner for me night and day;
+And every hour I hear Thy voice implore:
+"I thirst -- I thirst -- I thirst -- for love alway!"
+I, too, Thy prisoner am I;
+I, too, cry ever unto Thee
+Thine own divine and tender cry:
+"I thirst! Oh, let me die"
+"Of love for Thee!"
+For love of Thee I thirst! Fulfil my hope;
+Augment in me Thine own celestial flame!
+For love of Thee I thirst! Too scant earth's scope.
+The glorious Vision of Thy Face I claim!
+My long slow martyrdom of fire
+Still more and more consumeth me.
+Thou art my joy, my one desire.
+Jesu! may I expire
+Of love for Thee!
+To bear my exile now, within this world of tears,
+The holy tender glance of Christ, my Lord, I need.
+That glance, surcharged with love, consoles me through the years;
+His loveliness displays foretaste of heaven indeed.
+On me my Jesus smiles, when toward Him I aspire -- ,
+The trial of my faith then weighs no more on me.
+That love-glance of my God, that smile of holy fire,
+Oh, this is heaven for me!
+Tis heaven to have the power, great grace from Christ to win
+For Holy Mother Church, for all my Sisters dear, --
+For every soul on earth that He may enter in,
+Enflame our sinful hearts, and grant us joy and cheer.
+All things my love can gain when, heart to heart, I pray,
+Alone with Jesus Christ in speechless ecstasy.
+Beside His altar blest with Him I gladly stay, --
+Oh, this is heaven for me!
+My heaven within the Host safe hid and peaceful, lies,
+Where Jesus Christ abides, divinest, fairest Fair.
+From that great fount of love doth endless life arise;
+There, day and night, my Lord doth hearken to my prayer.
+When, in Thy perfect love (O moment blest and bright!)
+Thou comest, Spouse most pure, me to transform in Thee,
+That union of our hearts, that rapture of delight, --
+Oh, this is heaven for me!
+My heaven it is to feel in me some likeness blest
+To Him Who made me and my soul hath reconciled;
+My heaven it is always beneath His eye to rest.
+To call Him Father dear, and be His loving child.
+Safe shielded in His arms, no storm my soul can fear;
+Complete abandonment my only law shall be.
+To sleep upon His Heart, with His blest Face so near, --
+Oh, this is heaven for me!
+My heaven is God alone, the Trinity Divine,
+Who dwells within my heart, the Prisoner of my love.
+There, contemplating Thee, I tell Thee Thou art mine;
+Thee will I love and serve until we meet above.
+My heaven it is to smile on Thee whom I adore,
+E'en when, to try my faith, from me Thou hidest Thee;
+Calmly on Thee to smile, until Thou smil'st once more, --
+Oh, this is heaven to me!
+Though in a foreign land I dwell afar,
+I taste in dreams the endless joys of heaven.
+Fain would I fly beyond the farthest star,
+And see the wonders to the ransomed given!
+No more the sense of exile weighs on me,
+When once I dream of that immortal day.
+To my true fatherland, dear God! I see,
+For the first time I soon shall fly away.
+Ah! give me, Jesus! wings as white as snow,
+That unto Thee I soon may take my flight.
+I long to be where flowers unfading blow;
+I long to see Thee, O my heart's Delight!
+I long to fly to Mary's mother-arms, --
+To rest upon that spotless throne of bliss;
+And, sheltered there from troubles and alarms,
+For the first time to feel her gentle kiss.
+Thy first sweet smile of welcoming delight
+Soon show, O Jesus! to Thy lowly bride;
+O'ercome with rapture at that wondrous sight,
+Within Thy Sacred Heart, ah! let me hide.
+O happy moment! and O heavenly grace!
+When I shall hear Thee, Jesus, speak to me;
+And the full vision of Thy glorious Face
+For the first time my longing eyes shall see.
+Thou knowest well, my only martyrdom
+Is love, O Heart of Jesus Christ! for Thee;
+And if my soul craves for its heavenly home,
+Tis but to love Thee more, eternally.
+Above, when Thy sweet Face unveiled I view,
+Measure nor bounds shall to my love be given;
+Forever my delight shall seem as new
+As the first time my spirit entered heaven.
+O little key! I envy thee,
+For thou canst ope, at any hour,
+The Eucharistic prison-house,
+Where dwells the God of Love and Power.
+And yet -- Oh, tender mystery! --
+One effort of my faith alone
+Unlocks the tabernacle door,
+And hides me there with Christ my Own.
+O lamp within the holy place,
+Whose mystic lights forever shine!
+I fain would burn with fires of love
+As bright, before my God and thine.
+Yet, miracle of wondrous bliss!
+Such flames are mine; and, day by day,
+I can win souls to Jesus Christ,
+To burn with His pure love for aye.
+O consecrated altar-stone!
+I envy thee with every morn.
+As once in Bethlehem's blessed shed,
+The Eternal Word on thee is born.
+Yet, gentle Saviour! hear my plea;
+Enter my heart, O Lord divine!
+Tis no cold stone I offer Thee,
+Who dost desire this heart of mine!
+O corporal that angels guard!
+What envy of thee fills my breast!
+On thee, as in His swaddling bands,
+I see my only Treasure rest.
+Ah Virgin Mother! change my heart
+Into a corporal pure and fair,
+Whereon the snow-white Host may rest,
+And thy meek Lamb find shelter there.
+O holy paten! Jesus makes
+Of Thee His sacramental throne.
+Ah! if He would abase Himself,
+To dwell awhile with me alone!
+Jesus fulfils my longing hope,
+Nor must I wait until I die; --
+He comes to me! He lives in me!
+His ostensorium am I!
+The chalice, too, I fain would be,
+Where I adore the Blood divine!
+Yet, at the holy sacrifice,
+That Precious Blood each day is mine.
+More dear to Jesus is my soul,
+Than chalices of gold could be;
+His altar is a Calvary new,
+Whereon His Blood still flows for me.
+Only one little bunch of grapes
+That gladly disappears for Thee,
+O Jesus, holy, heavenly Vine!
+Thou knowest I rejoice to be.
+Beneath the pressure of the cross,
+I prove my love for Thee alway;
+And ask no other joy than this, --
+To immolate myself each day!
+Among the grains of purest wheat,
+O happy lot! he chooses me.
+We lose our life for Him, the Christ, --
+What rapturous height of ecstasy!
+Thy spouse am I, Thy chosen one.
+My Well-Beloved! come, dwell in me.
+Thy beauty wins my heart. Oh, come!
+Deign to transform me into Thee!
+Oh, how my heart would spend itself, to bless;
+It hath such need to prove its tenderness!
+And yet what heart can my heart comprehend?
+What heart shall always love me without end?
+All -- all in vain for such return seek I;
+Jesus alone my soul can satisfy.
+Naught else contents or charms me here below;
+Created things no lasting joy bestow.
+My peace, my joy, my love, O Christ!
+'Tis Thou alone! Thou hast sufficed.
+Thou didst know how to make a mother's heart;
+Tenderest of fathers, Lord! to me Thou art.
+My only Love, Jesus, Divinest Word!
+More than maternal is Thy heart, dear Lord!
+Each moment Thou my way dost guard and guide;
+I call -- at once I find Thee at my side --
+And if, sometimes Thou hid'st Thy face from me,
+Thou com'st Thyself to help me seek for Thee.
+Thee, Thee, alone I choose: I am Thy bride.
+Unto Thy arms I hasten, there to hide.
+Thee would I love, as little children love;
+For Thee, like warrior bold, my love I'd prove.
+Now, like to children, full of joy and glee,
+So come I, Lord! to show my love to Thee;
+Yet, like a warrior bold with high elation,
+Rush I to combats in my blest vocation.
+Thy Heart is Guardian of our innocence;
+Not once shall it deceive my confidence.
+Wholly my hopes are placed in Thee, dear Lord!
+After long exile, I Thy Face adored
+In heaven shall see. When clouds the skies o'erspread.
+To Thee, my Jesus! I lift up my head;
+For, in Thy tender glance, these words I see:
+"O child! I made My radiant heaven for thee."
+I know it well -- my burning tears and sighs
+Are full of charm for Thy benignant eyes.
+Strong seraphs form in heaven Thy court divine,
+Yet Thou dost seek this poor weak heart of mine.
+Ah! take my heart! Jesus, tis Thine alone;
+All my desires I yield to Thee, my Own!
+And all my friends, that are so loved by me,
+No longer will I love them, save in Thee!
+O Jesu! O my Love! Each eve I come to fling
+Before Thy sacred Cross sweet flowers of all the year.
+By these plucked petals bright, my hands how gladly bring,
+I long to dry Thine every tear!
+To scatter flowers! -- that means each sacrifice,
+My lightest sighs and pains, my heaviest, saddest hours,
+My hopes, my joys, my prayers, -- I will not count the price.
+Behold my flowers!
+With deep, untold delight Thy beauty fills my soul.
+Would I might light this love in hearts of all who live!
+For this, my fairest flowers, all things in my control,
+How fondly, gladly I would give!
+To scatter flowers! -- behold my chosen sword
+For saving sinners' souls and filling heaven's bowers.
+The victory is mine: yes, I disarm Thee, Lord,
+With these my flowers!
+The petals in their flight caress Thy Holy Face;
+They tell Thee that my heart is Thine, and Thine alone.
+Thou knowest what these leaves are saying in my place;
+On me Thou smilest from Thy throne.
+To scatter flowers! -- that means, to speak of Thee, --
+My only pleasure here, where tears fill all the hours;
+But soon, with angel hosts, my spirit shall be free,
+To scatter flowers!
+What from our lot could us entice!
+'Tis ours the altar-breads to make
+For that tremendous sacrifice
+Where Christ is offered for our sake.
+Heaven will be here, on sinful earth,
+When hid beneath these veils of snow:
+And God be here, in a new birth,
+Come down to dwell with us below!
+No queens are reigning anywhere
+In joy as great as ours to-day
+Our very work is love and prayer,
+And binds our Spouse to us alway.
+Earth's highest honors seem as naught,
+Beside this service of Heaven's King;
+Beside this peace, with blessings fraught
+That Jesus sends on dove-like wing.
+A holy envy fills our hearts
+For this fair work of our delight:
+For these small snow-white hosts, whose arts
+Shall hide the Lamb of God from sight.
+Yet we His brides, His chosen, are;
+Our Friend is He, our Spouse is He!
+And hosts are we, that He, our Star,
+Transforms to light and ecstasy.
+The priest's high lot is like our own,
+In this our daily work for God.
+Transformed by Him, we tread alone
+The very path that He once trod.
+By prayers, by acts of love divine,
+His brave apostles we must aid;
+With them our grace we must combine,
+And fight their battles unafraid.
+God, hid beneath these snowy veils,
+Will hide Him, too, our hearts within.
+O miracle! our prayer prevails,
+With Him, for mercy upon sin.
+Our joy, our glory, our delight,
+O Jesus! is this work for Thee.
+Thy Heaven is these ciboriums bright
+Our prayers shall fill with souls for Thee.
+With heavenly armor am I clad to-day;
+The hand of God has thus invested me.
+What now from Him could tear my heart away;
+What henceforth come between my God and me?
+With Him for Guide, the fight I face serene;
+Nor furious fire, nor foe, nor death, I fear.
+My enemies shall know I am a queen,
+The spouse of God, most high, most dear.
+This armor I shall keep while life shall last;
+Thou, Thou, hast given it Me, my King, my Spouse!
+My fairest, brightest gems, by naught on earth surpast,
+Shall be my sacred vows.
+My first dear sacrifice, O Poverty,
+Thou shalt go with me till my dying hour.
+Detached from all things must the athlete be,
+If he the race would run, and prove his power
+Taste, worldly men! regret, remorse and pain,
+The bitter fruits of earthly, vain desire;
+The glorious palms of Poverty I gain,
+I who to God alone aspire.
+"Who would My heavenly Kingdom have from Me,
+He must use violence," so Jesus said.
+Ah well then! Poverty my mighty lance shall be,
+The helmet for my head.
+The pure white Angels' sister now am I;
+My vow of Chastity has made me so.
+Ah, how I hope one day with them to fly!
+Meanwhile to daily combat must I go.
+For my great Spouse, of every lord the Lord,
+Struggle must I, with neither truce nor rest;
+And Chastity shall be my heavenly sword.
+To win men's souls to Jesus' breast.
+O Chastity,my sword invincible!
+To overcome my foes thou hast sufficed;
+By thee am I -- O joy ineffable! --
+The Spouse of Jesus Christ.
+The proud, proud angel, in the realms of light,
+Cried out, rebellious: "I will not obey!"
+But I shall cry, throughout earth's dreary night,
+"With all my heart, I will obey alway!"
+With holy boldness all my soul is steeled,
+Against hell's wild attacks I bravely dart;
+Obedience is my firm and mighty shield,
+The buckler on my valiant heart.
+O conquering God! no other prize I seek,
+Than to submit with all my heart to Thee;
+Of victories th' obedient man shall speak
+Through all eternity.
+If now a soldier's weapon I can wield,
+If valiantly like him the foe I face,
+I also long to sing upon the field,
+As sang the glorious Virgin of all grace.
+Thou mak'st the chords to vibrate of Thy lyre.
+That lyre, O Jesus! is my loving heart;
+To sing Thy mercies is that heart's desire.
+How sweet, how strong, how dear, Thou art.
+With radiant smile, Thou Spouse, my heart's Delight,
+I go to meet all foes from hell's dark land;
+And singing I shall die, upon the field of fight,
+My weapons in my hand.
+How many souls on earth there are,
+Who vainly seek for peace and rest!
+With me, tis otherwise by far;
+Joy dwells forever in my breast.
+No fading blossom is this flower,
+Of its decay no fear have I;
+Like fragrant rose in springtime's bower
+So fair it is, yet shall not die.
+Well nigh too great my gladness is,
+All things I wish are mine to-day.
+How can I help but show my bliss,
+Who am so light at heart, so gay?
+My joy I find in pain and loss,
+I love the thorns that guard the rose;
+With joy I kiss each heavy cross,
+And smile with every tear that flows.
+When clouds the sunny skies o'ercast,
+And weary grows my heart the while,
+My joy it is that joy is past,
+And gone my Lord's consoling smile.
+My peace is hid in Jesus' breast, --
+May His sweet will alone be done!
+What fear can mar my perfect rest,
+Who love the shadow as the sun?
+My peace,'tis like a child to be,
+That doth not plan, nor understand;
+So, when I fall, Christ raiseth me,
+And leads me gently by the hand.
+My childish love I manifest,
+And for His grace alone implore;
+Then, if He hide, my love to test,
+I only love Him all the more.
+My peace, it is to hide my tears,
+Nor ever show my bitter pain.
+What joy to suffer through the years;
+To veil with flowers each galling chain!
+To suffer, yet make no complaint,
+Since this, my Jesus, pleases Thee!
+Could any trial make me faint?
+'Tis Thy sweet cross is laid on me.
+My peace,-- it is with God to plead,
+In prayers and tears, by day and night;
+For many souls to intercede,
+And say to Him, my heart's Delight:
+"O Little Brother, Heavenly King!
+For Thee the cross I gladly bear.
+My only joy is suffering,
+Since thus Thy earthly lot I share."
+I long would live an exile here,
+If that be Thy dear will for me;
+Or soon would flee from exile drear,
+If thou shouldst call me unto Thee.
+Since Love's divine, celestial breath
+Is all I need, my heart to bless,
+What matters life, what matters death?
+Love is my peace, my happiness!
+O King majestic, strong! e'en from my earliest days,
+I well may call myself Thy work of grace alone;
+Thy love to pay with love, Thy care to tell with praise,
+I come with joy to-day, before Thy altar-throne.
+Jesu, my Best-Beloved! what privilege is this?
+For nothingness am I. What have I done for Thee?
+Yet, clad in virginal white, it is to-day my bliss
+To follow Thee, the Lamb, in heavenly ecstasy.
+I know, alas, too well, that I am less than naught,
+Weakness itself, and poor; devoid of virtues great
+And yet Thou knowest well that I have always sought
+With longing heart, Thyself; on Thee alone I wait
+When my young heart first felt the fire of love burn bright,
+Thou cam'st, O Christ! that fire to Thee alone to take;
+Naught could content my soul but Thee, my one Delight; --
+The Infinite alone my burning thirst could slake.
+Like some wee lamb afar from its safe sheltering fold,
+Gayly I played, and nothing knew of dangers drear.
+Shepherdess, Queen of Heaven! thy mother-love untold,
+Thy mother-watchfulness, drew me thy heart anear.
+So, playing on the brink of pitfalls dread and deep,
+Afar I saw the hill of Carmel beckon me;
+And I divined that they who climb its summits steep,
+Shall learn of love, to fly to heaven's eternity.
+An angel's purity, dear Lord, attracts Thy heart,
+An angel white as snow, in heaven's celestial mirth.
+Dost thou not also love a lily kept apart
+For Thee, from mire and taint; as white as snow, on earth?
+If he, within Thy sight, exults all dazzling pure,
+In brilliant stainless robes, whose lustre blinds our gaze,
+Hast Thou not kept my robe as safe, as white, as sure?
+My virgin heart has been the treasure of my days.
+Jesus, when Thou didst leave Thy Mother's fond embrace,
+Let go her hand;
+And first, on our hard earth, Thy little foot didst place,
+And trembling stand;
+Within Thy pathway, then fresh rose-leaves would I spread, --
+Their Maker's dower, --
+That so Thy tiny feet might very softly tread
+Upon a flower.
+These scattered rose-leaves form true image of a soul,
+O Child most dear!
+That longs to immolate itself, complete and whole,
+Each moment here.
+On Thy blest altars, Lord, fresh roses fain would shine,
+Radiant, near Thee;
+They gladly give themselves. Another dream is mine, --
+To fade for Thee!
+How gaily decks Thy feasts, dear Child, a rose newblown,
+Fragrant and fair!
+But withered roses are forgot, -- the wild winds' own, --
+Cast anywhere.
+Their scattered leaves seek now no earthly joy or pelf;
+For self, no gain.
+Ah, little Jesus! so, I give Thee all! Of self,
+Let naught remain.
+These roses trampled lie beneath the passer's tread,
+Unmarked, unknown.
+I comprehend their lot; -- these leaves, though pale and dead,
+Are still Thine own.
+For Thee they die; as I my time, my life, my all
+Have spent for Thee.
+Men think a fading rose am I, whose leaves must fall
+At death's decree.
+For Thee I die, for Thee, Jesus, Thou Fairest Fair! --
+Joy beyond telling! --
+Thus, fading, would I prove my love beyond compare,
+All bliss excelling.
+Beneath Thy feet, Thy way to smooth, through life's long night,
+My heart would lie;
+And softening Thy hard path up Calvary's awful height,
+I thus would die.
+I saw upon this earth
+A marvelous tree arise;
+Its vigorous root had birth,
+O wonder! in the skies.
+Never, beneath its shade,
+Can aught disturb or wound;
+There tempests are allayed,
+There perfect rest is found
+And love men call this tree,
+From heaven's high portals sent;
+Its fruit, how fair to see!
+Is named abandonment.
+What banquet here doth greet
+Each reverent, hungry guest!
+How, by its odors sweet,
+The spirit is refreshed!
+If we its fruit but touch,
+Joy seems on us to pour.
+Oh, taste, -- for never such
+A feast was yours before.
+In this tumultuous world
+It brings us perfect peace;
+Though storms be round us hurled,
+Its quiet shall not cease.
+Abandonment gives rest
+In Thee, O Jesus Christ!
+Here is the food most blest
+That has Thy saints sufficed.
+Spouse of my soul, draw nigher!
+I give my all to Thee.
+What more can I desire
+Than Thy sweet Face to see?
+Naught can I do but smile,
+Safe folded to Thy breast.
+They who have known no guile
+Find there most perfect rest.
+As looks the floweret small
+Up to the glorious sun,
+So I, though least of all,
+Seek my Beloved One.
+King Whom I love the most!
+The star I always see
+Is Thy White Sacred Host,
+Little and low like me;
+And its celestial power,
+Down from Thy altar sent,
+Wakes in my heart that flower, --
+Perfect abandonment.
+All creatures here below,
+At times, they weary me;
+And willingly I go,
+With God alone to be.
+And if, sometimes, dear Lord,
+Of me Thou weariest,
+I wait upon Thy word;
+Thy holy will is best.
+Smiling, I wait in peace,
+Till Thou return to me;
+And never shall they cease, --
+My songs of love for Thee.
+All pain I now despise,
+Naught can disquiet me;
+Swifter than eagle flies,
+My spirit flies to Thee.
+Beyond the gloomy cloud,
+Ever the skies are fair,
+And angels sing aloud,
+And God is reigning there.
+And yet without a tear
+I wait that bliss above,
+Who in the Host have here
+The perfect fruit of love.
+My sweetest Jesus! on Thy Mother's breast
+Thy little Face is radiant with love;
+Deign to reveal to me the mystery blest
+That drew Thee down to exile from above.
+Let me hide with Thee neath her veil of snow,
+That now conceals Thee from all human sight.
+Alone with Thee, bright Morning Star, I'll know
+On earth a foretaste of heaven's deep delight.
+When dawn awakens in the far-off cast,
+And first the sunbeams strike athwart the skies,
+Looks for a precious balm -- its daily feast --
+The unfolding floweret with expectant eyes.
+Those spotless pearls of clear translucent dew
+Are full of some mysterious vital power;
+They form the sap that ever doth renew
+And open the petals of the half-blown flower.
+Thou art the Flower with petals still unclosed;
+I gaze upon Thy beauty undefiled.
+Thou art the Rose of Sharon long foretold,
+Still in Thy glorious bud, Thou heavenly Child!
+Thy dearest Mother's arms, so pure and white,
+Form for Thee now a royal cradle-throne;
+Thy morning sun is Mary's bosom bright,
+Thy sunlit dew her virginal milk, my Own!
+Ah, little Brother, shielded safe from harms,
+In Thy deep eyes Thy future clear I see, --
+Soon Thou wilt leave for us Thy Mother's arms;
+E'en now to suffer, Love is urging Thee.
+And round Thy very Cross, Thou fading Flower,
+Still clings the fragrance of Thy cradle-throne;
+I recognize the pearls of Thy first hour:
+This Blood drew life from Mary's milk, my Own.
+Those pearly dews on all our altars rest;
+The angels fain would slake their thirst thereby,
+Offering to God these words, forever blest:
+"Behold the Lamb " -- St. John's adoring cry.
+Yes, see the Word, made Bread for famished men,
+The Eternal Priest, the Lamb on altar-throne!
+Since God's own Son is Mary's Son, all, then,
+This Bread drew life from Mary's milk, my Own!
+On love divine, on joy, on glory's light,
+The seraphs feast with rapture ever new;
+I, a frail child, in the ciborium bright
+See but a milk-white Host, like pearly dew.
+And since tis milk that suits with childhood most,
+And Thou art Love Itself upon Thy throne,
+So, tender Love, in my white daily Host
+I see Thy Mother's virginal milk, my Own!
+O Mother! thou my heart's desire
+Hast granted now; so hear my cry
+Of gratitude and love like fire
+Thy child uplifts to thee on high.
+By love for God and all mankind,
+By bonds of prayer and earnest will,
+Thou deignest now my soul to bind
+To those who Christ's last wish fulfil.
+Tis theirs through pagan lands to go,
+And raise the cross of Christ on high;
+Tis mine, within the cloister low,
+His slightest will to satisfy.
+I long for suffering; and the cross
+With strong desire my heart doth crave.
+A thousand deaths were gain, not loss,
+If but one soul I help to save!
+For this to Carmel's hill I've come, --
+Myself to immolate for men.
+Christ brought a fire from Heaven's high dome
+I fain would light in hearts again.
+Where Afric suns the desert bake,
+Where Asian Su-tchen fronts the east,
+My Mother, I can help to make
+Thy virginal name revered and blest.
+My prayers shall travel every day,
+As fast as mighty river rolls;
+My brothers, missioned far away,
+Helped here by me, shall conquer souls;
+And so the pure baptismal stream
+Shall make of many a Pagan child
+A temple, where God's grace shall beam,
+And God with man be reconciled.
+Ah! might I see dear children fill
+The heavenly courts where seraphs sing!
+Them, by my prayers and God's sweet will,
+My brothers shall to Jesus bring.
+The palm my spirit longs to gain,
+My brother's hand in mine shall place.
+A martyr's sister! Any pain
+Would seem delight to win that grace.
+The fruit of our apostolate
+Our longing eyes at last shall see,
+When, pressing on through heaven's gate,
+Our souls shall meet the saved and Thee.
+Be theirs the honor of the fight,
+My priestly brothers far away!
+Be mine, reflection of their light,
+At last, in heaven's eternal day!
+Could I some childlike spirit see,
+Resembling Christ, my little Child,
+Then she with Him should cradled be
+Upon my bosom undefiled.
+Angelic spirits, hovering near,
+Would envy such celestial bliss;
+Yet Thee I chose, so come then, dear!
+My Child awaits thy timid kiss.
+Oh, Jesus' sister thou shalt be, --
+I choose thee for "this better part."
+Wilt gladly bear Him company?
+Then shalt thou rest upon my heart.
+And I will shield thee neath my veil,
+Near Bethlehem's Babe so fair and bright.
+Oh, thou shalt think the stars are pale,
+Compared with this divine delight.
+But would'st forever stay with me,
+And with this Christ-Child, in my care?
+Then thou all fitly dressed must be
+In childhood's graces heavenly fair.
+Upon thy brow mine eyes must trace
+Thy light of purity divine;
+Simplicity's most tender grace
+Through all things in thy life must shine.
+God, Three in One, and One in Three,
+By angels tremblingly adored,
+Asks gently to be called by thee
+"Flower of the Fields," that simple word.
+As fair white daisies lift their face
+With steadfast meekness to the skies,
+So thou must look with kindred grace
+Within the Christ-Child's holy eyes.
+To worldly men no charm appears
+In this meek King Who wears no crown.
+Thou oft shalt see the burning tears
+From Jesus' eyes fail swiftly down.
+Then thine own pains thou must forget,
+To calm and soothe our Blessed One;
+Then thou must prize the vows that set
+Thy place so close to Him alone.
+Our God, Whose mighty power controls
+Fury of flood and force of flame,
+Now lieth low, to save men's souls,
+A Child enclothed in our shame.
+The Word, the Father's Word on high,
+My little Lamb, thy Brother dear,
+Now speaks no word, He breathes no sigh;
+Silent and dumb He lieth here.
+That silence forms the mystic sign
+Of love beyond all utterance deep;
+Its meaning thou must well divine
+And day by day like silence keep.
+And if, at times, His eyelids close,
+Rest then near Him in perfect peace;
+His Sacred Heart no slumber knows,
+His love for thee shall never cease.
+Nor think, dear Mary, anxiously,
+About the task of every day;
+To love thy blessed work shall be,
+Its holy crown be thine for aye.
+Lo! if some voice reproaches thee
+Because no great things thou hast done,
+Oh, make this answer steadfastly:
+"But I Ioved much!" So heaven is won.
+Our Lord Himself thy crown shall weave;
+And if thou seek His love alone,
+If all for Him thou gladly leave,
+Near His for aye shall be thy throne.
+When life's long vigil is all past,
+Heav'n's dawn shall break in joy for thee;
+And face to face, at last, at last,
+The Vision of God shall welcome thee!
+Fain would I sing, O Mother blest! the reasons why I love thee;
+Why e'en to name thy name, with joy, O Mary! fills my heart;
+And why the glorious thoughts of thee, in greatness far above me,
+Inspire no fear within my soul, so dear and sweet thou art.
+Yet, if I were to see thee now, in majesty stupendous,
+Surpassing all the crowned saints in highest heaven above,
+Scarce could I dream I am thy child, (O truth sublime, tremendous!),
+For I should think myself to be unworthy of thy love.
+The mother, who desires to be her child's best earthly treasure,
+Must ever share its grief with it, must understand its pain.
+Queen of my heart! how many years, thy sorrows had no measure;
+What bitter tears thine eyes have shed, my worthless heart to gain!
+So, musing on thy earthly life, in Scripture's sacred story,
+I dare to look upon thy face, and unto thee draw nigh;
+For when I see thee suffering, -- concealed thy marvelous glory --
+It is not hard, then, to believe thy little child am 1.
+When Gabriel came from heaven's courts, to ask thee to be mother
+Of God Who reigns omnipotent to all eternity,
+I see thee, Mary! then prefer to that great grace, another, --
+Through all thy consecrated life a virgin pure to be.
+And so I now can comprehend, immaculate white maiden!
+Why thou wast dearer unto God than heaven itself could be;
+And how thy humble, human frame, with mortal weakness laden,
+Could yet contain the Eternal Word, Love's vast unbounded Sea.
+I love thee when I hear thee call thyself the handmaid only
+Of God, Whom thou didst win to earth by thy humility;
+All-powerful it made thee then, above all women, lonely,
+And drew, into thy bosom chaste, the Blessed Trinity,
+The Holy Spirit, Love Divine, o'ershadowed thee, O Mother!
+And God the Father's only Son incarnate was in thee.
+How many sinful, sorrowing souls shall dare to call Him -- Brother!
+For He shall be called: Jesus, thy first-born, eternally.
+And oh! despite my frailties, dear Mary! well thou knowest
+That I at times, like thee, possess the Almighty in my breast.
+Shall I not tremble at the gift, O God! that Thou bestowest?
+A mother's treasure is her child's: -- I still my fears to rest.
+For I, O Mary, am thy child! O Mother dear and tender.
+Shall not thy virtues and thy love plead now with God for me?
+Then, when the pure white sacred Host, in all its veiled splendor,
+Visits my heart, thy spotless Lamb will think He comes to thee.
+Oh, thou dost help me to believe that e'en for us, frail mortals,
+Tis not impossible to walk where we thy footsteps see;
+The narrow road before us now, thou lightest to heaven's portals.
+Who lowliest virtues here below didst practise perfectly.
+Near thee, O Mother! I would stay, little, unknown and lowly;
+Of earthly glory, oh! how plain I see the vanity!
+In the house of St. Elizabeth, thy cousin dear and holy,
+I learn of thee to practise well most ardent charity.
+There, too, I listen on my knees, great Queen of all the Angels!
+To that sweet canticle that flows in rapture from thy soul;
+So dost thou teach me how to sing like heavenly, glad evangels
+And glorify my Jesus, Who alone can make me whole.
+Thy burning words of love divine are mystic flowers victorious,
+Whose fragrance shall embalm the long, long, ages yet to be.
+In thee, indeed, the Almighty King hath done great things and glorious!
+I meditate upon them now, and bless my God in thee.
+When good St. Joseph did not know the great archangel's story,
+Which thou wouldst fain conceal from men in thy humility,
+O tabernacle of the Lord! thou didst not tell thy glory,
+But veiled the Saviour's presence in profoundest secrecy,
+Thy silence, how I love it now, so eloquent, so moving!
+For me it is a concert sweet, of melody sublime;
+I learn thereby the grandeur of a soul that God is proving,
+That only looks for help from Him and in His chosen time.
+Then later still, O Joseph! and O Mary! I behold you
+Repulsed in little Bethlehem by all the dwellers there;
+From door to door you vainly went, for all the people told you
+They had no place to shelter you, no time to give you care.
+Their rooms were for the great alone; and in a stable dreary
+The Queen of Heaven gave birth to Him Who made both heaven and earth.
+O Mother of my Saviour! then, thou wast not sad nor weary;
+In that poor shed how grand thou wert! how painless was that Birth!
+And there when, wrapped in swaddling bands, I see the King Eternal, --
+When of the Word divine, supreme, the feeble cry I hear --
+O Mary, can I envy e'en the angels' joy supernal?
+The Master Whom they worship is My little Brother dear.
+What praises must I give to thee, who, in earth's gloomy prison,
+Brought forth this lovely heaven-sent Flower, before our eyes to bloom!
+Though unto shepherds and wise men a star had grandly risen,
+These things were kept within thy heart as in some secret room.
+I love thee when I see thee next, like other Hebrew women,
+To Israel's temple turn thy steps when dawned the fortieth day;
+I love thee yielding humbly up, to aged, favored Simeon,
+The Lord Who should redeem us all when years had fled away.
+And first my happy smiles awake, to hear his glorious singing, --
+That "Nunc Dimittis" that shall ring till Time itself shall die;
+But soon those joyous notes are changed, and my hot tears are springing; --
+"A sword of grief must be thy lot," thus runs his prophecy.
+O Queen of all the martyr-host! till thy life here is ended,
+That sharp, sharp sword shall pierce thy heart! At once, it pierces sore.
+That thy dear Child from Herod's wrath may surely be defended,
+I see thee as an exile fled to Egypt's pagan shore.
+Beneath thy veil thy Jesus slept, thy peace no fears were daunting,
+When Joseph came to bid thee wake, and straightway flee from home;
+And then at once I see thee rise, as called by angels chanting,
+Content, without a questioning word, in foreign lands to roam.
+In Egypt and in poverty, I think I see thee, Mary,
+All glad at heart, all radiant, with joy beyond compare.
+What matters exile unto thee? Thy true home cannot vary.
+Hast thou not Jesus, with thee still? and with Him Heaven is there.
+But, oh! in fair Jerusalem, a sorrow, vast, unbounded,
+Indeed o'erwhelmed thy mother-heart with grief beyond compare; --
+For three days Jesus hid Himself; no word to thee was spoken.
+Thou truly wast an exile then, and knew what exiles bear.
+And when, at last, thine eyes again were thy Son's face beholding,
+And love entranced thee, watching Him among the doctors wise,
+"My Child!" thou saidst, "now tell me why didst leave my arms enfolding?
+Didst Thou not know we sought for Thee with tear-endimmed eyes?
+The Child-God answered to thee then, to thy sweet, patient wooing,
+O Mother whom He loved so well, whose heart was well-nigh broken!
+"How is it that you sought for Me? Wist not I must be doing
+My Father's work?" Oh, who shall sound the depths those words betoken?
+But next the Gospel tells me that, in His hidden mission,
+Subject to Joseph and to thee was Christ, the Holy Boy;
+And then my heart reveals to me how true was His submission,
+And how beyond all words to tell, thy daily, perfect joy.
+And now the temple's mystery I understand, dear Mother!
+The answer, and the tone of voice, of Christ, my King adored.
+Twas meant the pattern thou shouldst be, thereafter to all other
+Tried souls who seek, in Faith's dark night the coming of the Lord.
+Since Heaven's high King has willed it so His Mother and His dearest
+Should know the anguish of that night the torn heart's deepest woe,
+Then are notthose, who suffer thus, to Mary's heart the nearest?
+And is not love in suffering God's highest gift below?
+All, all that He has granted me, oh! tell Him He may take it!
+Tell Him, dear Mother! He may do whate'er He please with me;
+That He may bruise my heart to-day, and make it sore, and break it,
+So only through Eternity my eyes His Face may see!
+I know, indeed, at Nazareth, O Virgin rich in graces!
+As the lowly live, so thou didst live, and sought no better things;
+Of ecstasies and wonders there, our eyes can find no traces,
+O thou who daily dwelt beside the incarnate King of Kings!
+On earth, we know, is very great the number of the lowly;
+With neither fear nor trembling now we dare to look on thee.
+By common lot and humble path, our Mother dear and holy,
+Thou wast content to walk to heaven, and thus our guide to be.
+Through all my weary exile here, I fain would walk beside thee.
+O my pure and precious Mother! be near to me each day!
+Thy beauty thrills my heart with joy. Deign now to guard and guide me!
+What depths of love are in thy heart for me thy child, alway!
+Before thy kind maternal glance, my many fears are banished;
+Thou teachest me to gently weep, and then to sing for joy;
+Thou dost not scorn our happy days, nor hast thou wholly vanished;
+Thou smilest on us tenderly, as once upon thy Boy!
+When bride and groom at Cana's feast knew well the wine was failing,
+And knew not whence to bring supply, their need thine eyes perceived,
+To Christ, the Master, thou didst speak, who knew His power availing,
+The Maker of created things, in Whom thy soul believed.
+But first He seemed thy mother-heart's kind prayer to be denying.
+"What matters this, O woman! unto Me and thee?" said He.
+But "Mother," in His soul's deep depths, His filial heart was crying;
+And that first miracle He wrought, Mother, lie wrought for thee.
+One day, while sinners crowded round to hear what He was saying,
+In His desire to save their souls and them to heaven beguile,
+Lo! thou wast there amid the throng, and thou wast meekly praying
+That they would let thee nearer come, and speak with Him awhile.
+And then thy Son spoke out this word mysterious like that other.
+To show us thus His marvelous love for all the souls of men; --
+He said: "Who is My brother, and My sister, and My Mother?
+Tis he who does My Father's will!" The Father's will, again!
+O Virgin, pure, immaculate! O Mother, tenderest, dearest!
+Hearing these words that Jesus spake, this time thou wast not grieved.
+No! thy great heart it leaped for joy, O thou His friend the nearest!
+Because our longing souls likewise to kinship He received.
+Oh, how thy heart is glad to know His love to us is given, --
+The treasure, that cannot be weighed, of His Divinity!
+Who shall not love thee well to-day, and bless thee in high heaven,
+Seeing thy tender care for us, thy generosity!
+For truly thou dost love us all as thy Child Jesus loves us;
+And for our sake thou didst consent to stay when He had risen.
+Since, if we love, then all to give, e'en self, both tries and proves us,
+So thou, to prove thy love, didst stay in earth's dark, dreary prison.
+Thy love for souls our Saviour knew, that love His heart had sounded;
+He left thee to us when He went to God's right hand on high.
+Refuge of sinners! on thy prayers how many hopes are grounded!
+Christ gave thee to us from His cross; for us He hears thy cry.
+For thou -- His Mother -- there didst stand, that awful day, on calvary;
+As a priest before God's altar, at the cross so thou didst stand.
+And to appease the Father's wrath, didst offer up, O Mary!
+Thy Jesus, our Emmanuel, at God's supreme command.
+A prophet had foretold this thing, O Mother brokenhearted!
+"Is any sorrow like to thine?" Thy grief no words can say!
+Blest Queen of martyrs! left on earth when Jesus had departed!
+Twas thy heart's blood for us was given on that unequalled day.
+Henceforth thy shelter in thy woe was St. John's humble dwelling;
+The son of Zebedee replaced the Son Whom heaven adored.
+Naught else the Gospels tell us of thy life, in grace excelling;
+It is the last they say of thee, sweet Mother of my Lord!
+But that deep silence, oh! I think it means that, up in glory,
+When time is past, and into heaven thy children safe are come,
+The Eternal Word, my Mother dear, Himself will tell thy story,
+To charm our souls, thy children's souls, in our eternal home.
+Soon I shall hear that harmony, that blissful, wondrous singing;
+Soon, soon, to heaven that waits for us, my soul shall swiftly fly.
+O Thou who cam'st to smile on me at dawn of life's beginning!
+Come once again to smile on me. . . . Mother! the night is nigh.
+I fear no more thy majesty, so far, so far above me,
+For, I have suffered sore with thee; now hear my heart's deep cry!
+Oh! let me tell thee face to face, dear Virgin! how I love thee;
+And say to thee forevermore: thy little child am I.
+O glorious guardian of my frame!
+In heaven's high courts thou shinest bright,
+As some most pure and holy flame,
+Before the Lord of endless light.
+Yet for my sake thou com'st to earth,
+To be my brother, Angel dear:
+My friend and keeper from my birth,
+By day and night to me most near.
+Knowing how weak a child am I,
+By thy strong hand thou guidest me;
+The stones that in my pathway lie,
+I see thee move them carefully.
+Ever thy heavenly tones invite
+My soul to look to God alone;
+And ever grows thy face more bright,
+When I more meek and kind have grown.
+O thou who speedest through all space
+More swiftly than the lightnings fly!
+Go very often, in my place,
+To those I love most tenderly.
+With thy soft touch, oh! dry their tears;
+Tell them the cross is sweet to bear;
+Speak my name softly in their ears,
+And Jesu's name, supremely fair.
+Through all my life, though brief it be,
+I fain would succor souls from sin.
+Dear Angel, sent from heaven to me,
+Kindle thy zeal my heart within!
+Naught but my holy poverty,
+And daily cross to give have I;
+O join them to thine ecstasy,
+And offer them to God on high.
+Thine are heaven's glory and delight,
+The riches of the King of kings;
+The Host in our ciboriums bright
+Is mine, and all the wealth pain brings.
+So with the Cross, and with the Host,
+And with thine aid, dear Angel Friend,
+I wait in peace, on time's dark coast,
+Heaven's happiness that knows no end.
+O happy little ones! with what sweet tenderness
+The King of Heaven
+Blessed you, when here below! How often His caress
+To you was given!
+You were the type of all the Innocents to come.
+In dreams I know
+The boundless joy the King gives you in heaven's high home,
+He loves you so!
+Before earth's bitter griefs, dear lilies of the Lord,
+Had dimmed your eyes,
+You had beheld the gifts, -- how very beauteous! -- stored
+In Paradise.
+O fragrant buds, soon plucked at day's sweet dawning bright,
+By God's own hand;
+His Sacred Heart is now the Sun by Whose soft light
+Those buds expand!
+What perfect care and oh! what ceaseless watchfulness,
+What love alway,
+Lavishes on you here our Mother Church, to bless
+Souls of a day!
+In her maternal arms, you were in holy rite
+To Jesus given;
+And through eternity, you will be the delight
+Of His fair Heaven.
+Dear little ones! you join the virginal court, in state
+Following the Lamb;
+And you the sweet new song shall sing (O privilege great!)
+Unto His Name.
+You to the conqueror's palm, without the deadly fight,
+Have safely come.
+O charming victors: Christ from you has taken all blight,
+And brought you home.
+It needs no precious stones, all luminous and gay,
+To deck your hair;
+The lustre of your curls, sweet Innocents, to-day,
+Makes Heaven more fair.
+To you grand martyrs lend their palms; they give their crowns,
+Your brows to grace;
+Upon their knees you find, dear children, now your thrones,
+In their embrace.
+In splendid courts on high, with tiny cherub-throngs
+Gayly you play:
+Beloved baby-band! your childish sports and songs
+Charm heaven alway.
+God tells you how He makes the birds, the flowers, the snow,
+The sunlight clear;
+No genius here below knows half the things you know,
+O children, dear!
+From Heaven's azure vault you tear the veils that make
+Such mystery:
+The glowing myriad stars in your wee hands you take,
+Your toys to be.
+Running Heaven's highways, there, your tiny footsteps leave
+A silvery trace;
+In the bright Milky Way, I think I see, at eve,
+Each shining face.
+To Mary's welcoming arms, when your gay games are done,
+How swift you hie!
+Hiding beneath her veil your heads like Christ Her Son
+In sleep you lie.
+Heaven's darling little pets! audacity like this
+Delights our Lord;
+And you can even dare caress and gently kiss
+His Face adored.
+That Blessed Lord has deigned you for my pattern here
+To give to me;
+O Holy Innocents, like you so pure and dear
+I strive to be.
+Pray, pray, that I may gain all childhood's graces best, --
+Your candor true,
+Your sweet abandonment, your innocence so blest,
+That charm my view!
+Thou, of my exiled soul, O Lord! full well dost know
+The ardent prayer.
+Fair Lily of the Vale, on Thee I would bestow Earth's lilies fair;
+These buds of spring I love, and long to find for Thee,
+Thou King adored!
+Grant the baptismal grace to each one tenderly;
+Then cull them, Lord!
+My pains and my joys I offer with delight, --
+For children's souls:
+Thus to augment Thy ranks of Innocents most white,
+The while time rolls;
+And, mongst these Innocents, I ask Thee that it place
+To me be given.
+Grant to me, as to them, Thy kiss, O wondrous grace
+Jesus! in Heaven.
+Thou glorious Saint of God! in ecstasy I see
+The path of shining light thy footsteps left below;
+And still I think I hear thy heavenly melody;
+Of thy celestial chant e'en here the sounds we know.
+Now, of my exiled soul, accept the fervent prayer;
+Upon thy virginal heart let my young heart find rest!
+Almost unequalled here wast thou, O lily fair,
+Immaculately pure, and how divinely blest!
+Most chaste white dove of Rome! through all thy life on earth
+No other spouse than Christ thy heart desired to find.
+He chose thy favored soul, e'en from thy hour of birth,
+And made it rich in grace and virtues all combined.
+And yet a mortal came, on fire with youth and pride;
+He saw how sweet thou wert, thou white celestial flower!
+And then, to gain thy love -- to win thee for his bride --
+He strove with all his strength, from that momentous hour.
+Soon bridal feasts he spread, his palace decked with glory,
+Bade minstrels play their best, and songs ring loudly there,
+While still thy virginal heart sang soft thy Saviour's story,
+Whose echo rose to heaven like incense sweet and rare.
+How couldst thou sing, so far from Heaven, thy fatherland,
+When seeing near thy side, that mortal bold and frail?
+Did not thy heart crave, then, in heaven's high courts to stand,
+And dwell, forever safe, with Christ beyond the veil?
+But no! thy harp I hear vibrate like seraph's singing,
+Harp of thy love, whose sound so softly smote the ear;
+These words, to Christ thy Lord, in thy sweet chant were ringing:
+"Now keep my young heart pure, O Jesus, Spouse most dear."
+Abandonment how true! O wondrous melody!
+By that celestial chant thy love now stands revealed --
+The love that knows no fear, but sleeps in ecstasy
+Upon the Saviour's Heart, from every ill concealed.
+In wide blue skies appeared the radiant white star
+That came, to lighten up, with meek and timid glow,
+The luminous night that shows, unveiled to us afar,
+That virginal love, in heaven, which virgin spouses know.
+But here, Valerian dreamed of earthly joy and bliss.
+Cecilia! thou alone wast his young heart's desire.
+Ah, when thy hand he gained, he gained far more than this!
+That hand showed him a path to better things, and higher.
+"O friend! " to him thou saidst "near me doth watch alway
+An angel of the Lord, who keeps me pure as snow,
+Who leaves me not alone, neither by night nor day;
+E'en in my sleep, his wings protect from harm and woe.
+At night, his holy face, with clear and silvery light --
+A glory lovelier far than morning sun, -- doth shine.
+That face to me appears like some blest image bright,
+Transparent, marvelous, of God's own face divine."
+Then cried Valerian: "Show me this angel blest,
+That I may give my faith to thy firm word, fair maid;
+Or else believe that hate for thee will fill my breast,
+And thou, before my wrath, shalt shudder sore afraid."
+O dove, within the rock of God's strong heart concealed,
+No fear hadst thou, that night, of subtlest fowler's snare:
+The Face of Jesus, then, Its light to thee revealed;
+His sacred gospels lay upon thy bosom fair.
+"Valerian!" that word was said with gentlest smile,
+"My heavenly guide, who hears, will answer thy request.
+Soon thou his face shalt see; his voice shall thee beguile,
+For martyrdom to seek, and thus to find thy rest.
+But, ere his face thou see, baptismal grace must make
+Thy soul as white as snow, that God therein may dwell.
+The one true God Himself thy heart His home shall make,
+The Spirit give thee life, that thou mayst serve Him well;
+The Word, the Father's Son, and Son of Mary chaste,
+Must immolate Himself, in His vast love for thee,
+Upon His altar throne; and there thou must be placed,
+Beside that throne, to feed on Him Who died for thee.
+Then shall the seraph bright, thee for his brother, claim,
+And, seeing in thy heart the home of God his King,
+Thee shall he lift from earth's dark dens of sin and shame;
+Thee, to his own abode, that angel then shall bring."
+"Ah! in my heart I feel a new fire burn to-night!"
+Transformed by God's own grace, the young patrician cried.
+Oh! come, within my soul to dwell, Thou Lord of light!
+Worthy my love shall be of thee, Cecile, my bride!"
+In his baptismal robe, the type of innocence,
+Valerian, at last, the angel's face beheld;
+In awe he gazed upon that grave magnificence;
+That radiant, crown-decked brow his old ambitions quelled.
+Fresh roses in his hands did that grand spirit bear,
+Pure lilies, dazzling white, to his strong heart he pressed.
+In gardens of high heaven had bloomed those blossoms rare,
+Beneath the rays of love from their Creator blest.
+"O Spouses dear to Heaven! the martyrs' royal rose
+Shall crown your brows," exclaimed that angel from on high
+"No voice on earth can sing, no mortal tongue disclose,
+Its value beyond price, that lasts eternally.
+I lose myself in God, His attributes proclaim;
+But I cannot, for Him, bear pain, though fain would I!
+I cannot shed or tears or blood for His dear name;
+To prove my love for Him, I cannot gladly die.
+Oh! purity is ours, the angels' special grace, --
+Our vast, unbounded joy, that ne'er shall fade away;
+But o'er our lofty lot yours hath a loftier place,
+For you -- you can be pure, and you can die, to-day'
+"Of chaste virginity, you see the emblem here,
+In these white lilies sweet, -- fair gift from Christ the Lamb;
+The pure white crown He gives, in glory you shall wear;
+And you for aye shall chant the new song to His name.
+Your union, spotless, chaste, shall win great souls to God --
+Souls that no other spouse, than Christ, shall seek on earth;
+And near His heavenly throne, when life's hard path is trod,
+There you shall see them shine, in saintly joy and mirth."
+Cecilia, lend to me thy melody most sweet:
+How many souls would I convert to Jesus now.
+I fain would die, like thee, to win them to His feet;
+For him give all my tears, my blood. Oh, help me thou!
+Pray for me that I gain, on this our pilgrim way
+Perfect abandonment -- that sweetest fruit of love.
+Saint of my heart! oh, soon, bring me to endless day;
+Obtain that I may fly, with thee, to heaven above!
+Christ is my Love alone, all life is He for me;
+He is my one Betrothed, Who charms my dazzled eyes;
+E'en now I hear vibrate the solemn harmony
+Of His melodious sighs.
+With precious stones and gold He decks my flowing hair,
+Already on my hand shines bright His nuptial ring;
+And many lustrous stars, magnificently fair,
+Are love-gifts from my King.
+With pearls, all price beyond, has He adorned my hands;
+About my neck He placed a necklace wondrous bright;
+Celestial rubies red, from far-off unknown lands,
+Bedeck my ears to-night.
+Betrothed am I to Him on Whom the angels wait,
+Trembling before His throne throughout eternity;
+The sun and moon His praise with rapture will relate,
+Till time shall cease to be.
+Divine His Person is; heaven is His realm of bliss;
+He for His Mother chose a Virgin here on earth;
+Who no beginning hath, nor end, His Father is, --
+Eternal is that birth.
+Ah! when this Jesus Christ at times to touch I dare,
+More pure becomes my heart; more chaste, dear Lord, am I!
+The kisses of His mouth give me the treasure fair
+Of blest virginity.
+His signet He hath set already on my face,
+That so no earthly love may dare draw nigh to me;
+Kept thus for Christ alone, by His abiding grace,
+His perfect purity.
+Cleansed by the precious Blood He shed on Calvary's cross,
+Already here I taste of heaven's matchless bliss;
+The honey and the milk -- with joys that know not loss --
+Come to me with His kiss.
+No thought of fear have I, of either flame or sword:
+For naught can now disturb this perfect heavenly peace
+A fire of love divine pervades my soul, O Lord:
+And never shall it cease.
+O Theophane, angelic martyr blest!
+All the elect to sing thy praise aspire;
+And thee to hail, behold! there stand confest
+The Seraphim, with love divine on fire.
+I, a poor exile still on this dull earth,
+Can not with them my joyful song combine;
+Yet will I take my harp, and sing thy worth,
+And claim thee as a kindred soul to mine.
+Thy brief bright sojourn here was like a psalm
+Of heavenly melody, all hearts upraising;
+Thy poet nature sang sweet songs like balm,
+Through all thy life thy dearest Saviour praising.
+Writing thy farewell thy last earthly night,
+That farewell was a song of Spring and love,
+"I, little butterfly, the first take flight,
+Of all our loved ones, to our home above."
+Thou, happy martyr! in the hour of death
+Didst taste the deep delight of suffering:
+Thou didst declare, e'en with thy dying breath,
+That it is sweet to suffer for the King.
+When the stern headsman made thee offer fair
+Thy torture to abridge, how swift thy word:
+"Oh, blest am I my Master's cup to share!
+Long let my suffering last with Christ my Lord!"
+O virginal lily! life had but begun,
+When Jesus heard thy loving heart's desire.
+I see in thee a flower whose race is run,
+Yet his hand plucked it but to lift it higher.
+And now, no longer, exile dost thou know;
+Thy ecstasy the Blest exult to see.
+Thou Rose of love! the Virgin white as snow
+Rejoices in thy heavenly purity.
+Soldier of Christ, thy armor lend to me!
+For sinners' souls I long to give my life;
+For them to give my tears, my blood, like thee:
+Protect me then, and arm me for the strife!
+For them I fain would fight, till life is done; --
+God's kingdom take by force, their souls to save.
+"Not peace to earth I bring," (so spake God's Son),
+"But fire and sword I bring." Oh, saving glaive!
+How dear is now to me that pagan horde,
+The object of thy burning love below;
+If Jesus would to me such grace accord,
+Ah, thither with what ardor would I go.
+Before Him space and distance fade away.
+This earth is but a plaything on the breeze;
+My actions, my small sufferings to-day,
+Can make my Jesus loved beyond the seas.
+Oh, were I but a fading springtime flower,
+That soon the Lord would gather to His breast!
+Come down, O Theophane, at my last hour;
+Come down for me, thou youthful martyr blest!
+Come, with the virginal flames of purest love,
+Come, burn from out my soul all earthly clay,
+That I may fly to heaven's courts above,
+And join thy cohort in unending day.
+On this glad day, dear Magdalene,
+We come to sing with praises due
+The wonderful, strong, gentle chain
+That binds your heavenly Spouse and you.
+Oh, hear us tell the charming story
+Of how a shepherdess once heard
+A Monarch bid her share His glory,
+And how she answered to his word.
+The shepherdess sing,
+Whom the Heavenly King
+With glory-crowned head
+Doth here, this day, at Carmel, wed!
+This shepherdess, so small, so poor,
+While spinning, kept her flocks with care.
+She loved the flowers beside her door,
+The birds that fluttered here and there;
+She knew what tongue the river spake,
+The verdant woods, the skies above;
+She loved them for her Master's sake,
+As tokens of His boundless love.
+But oh! she loved most tenderly
+Jesus and Mary. All her heart
+She gave, and they loved Melanie,
+And came to speak with her apart.
+"Will you," to her the sweet Queen said,
+"Near me, on Carmel, come to dwell?
+Will you be Magdalene, instead
+Of Melanie, and serve God well?
+"Child, quit your flock, seek God alone,
+Nor mourn the lambs you ne'er shall see!
+Upon this mountain all my own,
+Jesus your only Lamb shall be."
+"Oh, come! thy soul has charmed My sight,"
+Spake Jesus, "Come, be thou My bride!
+Who gave to God all earth's delight!
+Come, reign forever at My side!"
+Gladly the humble shepherdess
+Responded to that gentle call;
+And following Mary, swift to bless,
+She came to Carmel's lofty wall.
+Tis you, O little Magdalene!
+We feast with, on this joyous day!
+The shepherdess is now a Queen,
+Near Christ, her Spouse and King alway.
+O! cherished Sister, you know well
+To serve our God, it is to reign!
+Our Jesus did not cease to tell
+This lesson through His life of pain;
+"Among the great, on heaven's height,
+Who would stand first eternally
+Must choose on earth the lowest place,
+To hide from sight -- the least to be."
+Happy are you, O Magdalene!
+In your fixed lot in Carmel's home,
+Can there, for you, be any pain
+Who here so close to heaven come?
+Both Martha's, Mary's is your part --
+To pray, to wait upon the Lord --
+To love Him here with all your heart,
+And have Him for your great reward.
+Yet if, sometimes, sharp suffering
+Shall come to flood your soul with night,
+From out your pain will gladness spring
+For God you suffer. What delight!
+His tenderness, divine and sweet,
+Shall make you very soon forget
+The thorns that lie beneath your feet,
+The tears with which your eyes were wet.
+The angels envy you to-day!
+They fain would taste your joy, Marie!
+Your ecstasy, divinely gay --
+The spouse of Jesus Christ to be.
+Soon, soon among the angel bands,
+Among the Virtues, Thrones and Powers,
+Your Spouse and King in heaven's bright lands
+You, too, shall praise through endless hours.
+This shepherdess soon,
+So poor neath the moon,
+In heaven a queen,
+Beside her King shall yet be seen.
+Remember thou how once upon this earth
+Thy joy was found in caring for us all!
+Hear now the prayer of those who owe their birth
+To thee, dear father; bless us when we call!
+A little while ago, in Heaven, our home above,
+Thou to our mother's side hast come with saintly love.
+Together now ye reign,
+in Heaven made one again.
+O'er us keep guard!
+Remember thy first-born, thy bright Marie,
+She who was dearest ever in thy sight;
+Remember how her charm, her gaiety,
+Her love, her goodness, filled thee with delight,
+That daily source of joy thou didst renounce -- for God;
+And thou didst bless the band, that made thee feel His rod.
+Thy "diamond" bright and fair,
+Thy rarest of the rare,
+Remember thou!
+Remember thou thy beautiful "pure pearl,"
+The timid lamb once to thy tendence given!
+Trusting in God, behold thy lovely girl
+Guide Carmel's flock along the road to Heaven.
+Of thy beloved ones, "Mother" is she to-day:
+Then come to guide even now thy darling on her way!
+This Carmel of Thine own
+Remember at Heaven's throne,
+Remember thou!
+Remember now thy strong and ardent prayer
+Made here for thy third child, thy Leonie!
+God heard thee; for to her this earth so fair
+But banishment and exile seems to be.
+She, too, from this gay world, to God would turn aside;
+She loves Him only, and becomes His bride.
+Her ardent, burning sighs,
+Her Heaven-sent ecstasies,
+Remember thou!
+Remember thou thy faithful child, Celine,
+Who was to thee like angel from the skies,
+When close to thine the Face of Christ was seen,
+Testing thy virtue by great sacrifice!
+In Heaven thou reignest now; her task is past and gone;
+Now unto Jesus Christ she gives her life alone.
+Protect her future days,
+Who very often says:
+Remember thou!
+And, oh! remember thou thy "little queen," --
+The tender love with which her heart o'erflowed;
+Remember where at first her steps have been,
+And whose hand guided her along her road.
+Papa, remember now, that in her infancy
+Her innocence was given into God's care by thee.
+Even her curling hair
+To thee was dear and fair!
+Remember thou!
+Remember thou that on the terrace green
+Her place was often on thy saintly knees;
+And murmuring a prayer for her, "thy queen,"
+Thou didst sing softly on the Sunday breeze,
+And she, upon thy heart, saw in thy holy face
+A shining of Heaven's light, a strange unearthly grace.
+The beauty, sung by thee,
+Was of eternity!
+Remember thou!
+Remember now that Sunday ever blest,
+When thou a pure white flower to her didst give,
+And to thy child, dose to thy bosom pressed,
+Didst grant the grace on Carmel's hill to live.
+Oh, father dear, recall that in her trial-hour
+Sincerest proofs were given of all thy loving power,
+At Bayeux and at Rome
+Showing her Heaven as home!
+Remember thou!
+Remember that the Holy Father's hand
+Within the Vatican was laid on thee.
+The mystery, then, thou couldst not understand,
+The mystic sign of suffering to be.
+But now thy children here to thee uplift their prayer;
+They bless thy bitter cross, that won thy coronet rare.
+Upon thy brow, -- fair sight! --
+There shine, in Heaven's own light,
+Nine lilies bright!
+Oh, how I love your memory,
+My childhood days, so glad and free!
+To keep my innocence, dear Lord, for Thee,
+Thy love came to me night and day,
+Alway.
+So, when a little child was I,
+To Thee I gave me utterly
+Making with joy to Thee my promise high,
+To wed a King beyond my view, --
+Jesu!
+I loved the Mother loved by Thee;
+Saint Joseph, too, was friend to me.
+How near Thy promised heaven seemed to be,
+When shone, reflected in mine eyes,
+The skies!
+I loved the fields of wheat, the plain
+Of emerald grass, the gentle rain.
+Joy grew so great in me, twas almost pain!
+How dear my sisters' presence there;
+How fair!
+I loved to cull the grass, the flowers,
+Forget-me-nots in leafy bowers;
+I found the violets' perfume, all the hours, --
+With crocus growing neath my feet,
+Most sweet.
+I loved the daisies fair and white;
+Our Sunday walks, -- oh, what delight!
+The azure skies so gloriously bright;
+The birds that sang upon the tree
+For me!
+I loved my little shoe to grace,
+Each Christmas in the chimney-place;
+To find it there at morn, how swift I'd race!
+The feast of heaven, I hailed it well;
+Noel!
+I loved my mother's gentle smile,
+Her thoughtful glance that said, the while:
+"Eternity doth me from you beguile.
+I go to heaven, my God, to be
+With Thee!
+"I go to find, in realms above,
+My angel-band in Mary's love, ah, prove,
+The children whom I leave below, ah, prove,
+Jesu! to them their guide and stay,
+Alway!
+Oh, how I loved my heavenly Lord,
+In His blest Sacrament adored!
+He bound me to Him by His given word
+That He my Spouse from infancy
+Would be!
+I loved, upon the terrace fair,
+My father's reveries to share;
+To feel his gentle kisses on my hair.
+I loved that father -- who shall tell
+How well!
+Teresa, seated on his knee,
+Listened with me there, tenderly,
+To those melodious songs he sang for me.
+Those accents sweet I can not yet
+Forget.
+O Memory, what joys you bring!
+You wake the thought of many a thing
+That flew from me, long since, like birds awing.
+Faces I see, voices I hear
+How dear!
+At sunset's hour I loved to be,
+Teresa, heart to heart with thee;
+Thy soul was as my very own to me.
+My sister-friend, my love, wert thou
+As now.
+Hand clasped in hand our hymns we sang.
+Above earth's noisy clash and clang,
+Our voices through the holy twilight rang.
+Our dreams were then to Carmel given,
+And heaven.
+In Switzerland and Italy
+Thefairest scenes were shown to me;
+But fairer yet I deemed the sight to be
+Of him, -- Father of Christendom, --
+At Rome!
+The Coliseum's hallowed ground,
+With rapturous joy, my footsteps found;
+The Catacombs re-echoed to the sound
+Of hymns I sang to Thee, th' Adored,
+My Lord !
+What sorrows followed then, amain;
+What fears have filled my heart with pain!
+But Jesus came to help me, and sustain,
+And His dear cross has been my stay
+Alway.
+I fled the world, I turned my face,
+And. in a quiet resting-place,
+I sought in silent prayer for constant grace
+My load to bear, and for my grief
+Relief.
+I loved to hear, from distant towers,
+The sweet church-bells ring out the hours;
+I loved to cull, through burning tears, the flowers
+And hear, at eve, among the trees,
+The breeze.
+I loved the swallows' graceful flight,
+The turtledoves' low chant at night,
+The pleasant sound of insects gay and bright,
+The grassy vale where doth belong
+Their song.
+I loved the delicate morning-dew,
+On Bengal rose of charming hue;
+I loved to see the virginal bee accrue
+Its store of honey from the flower, --
+Its dower.
+I loved to gather autumn leaves;
+And, where the moss a carpet weaves,
+How oft, from mongst the vines, my hand receives
+A butterfly, so light of wing, --
+Fair thing!
+I loved the glow-worm on the sod;
+The countless stars, so near to God!
+But most I loved the beauteous moon, endowed
+With shining disk of silver bright,
+At night.
+To my dear father, worn and old,
+I gave myself with love untold.
+He was all to me. Joy, and home, and gold,
+Were mine in him; for him my kiss,
+My bliss.
+We loved the sweet sound of the sea,
+The storm, the calm, all things that be,
+At eve, the nightingale sang from the tree.
+Oh, seemed to us like seraphim
+Its hymn!
+But came one day when his sweet eyes
+Sought Jesus' cross with glad surprise . . .
+And then -- my precious, loving father dies!
+His last dear glance to me was given;
+Then -- heaven!
+Jesus, with hand benign and blest,
+Took Celine's treasure to his rest,
+Where endless joys are evermore possessed;
+Placing him near his throne of love,
+Above!
+Now, Lord, I am Thy prisoner here;
+Gone are the joys once held so dear.
+I have found out, -- none last, all seek their bier.
+I have seen all my joys pass by,
+And die.
+The grass is withered in its bed;
+The flowers within my hands are dead.
+Would that my weary feet, Jesu! might tread
+Thy heavenly fields, and I might be
+With Thee!
+E'en as the thirsting hart doth crave
+Its lips in some cool stream to lave,
+I seek from Thee, Jesu! the healing wave.
+I need, to calm my ardors and my fears,
+Thy tears.
+Thy love, naught else, attracts my soul;
+Heaven is my only aim, my goal;
+Love, Love divine, has me in Its control.
+I seek the Lamb upon His throne,
+Alone.
+Jesu! Thou art that Lamb divine;
+Naught else I crave, if I am Thine.
+In Thee all things in heaven and earth are mine!
+Thou art the lovely Flower of spring,
+My King!
+Thou art the Lily, pure and fair;
+Thy perfume sweet embalms the air.
+O Bunch of sacred Myrrh, divinely rare,
+Upon my heart, I beg Thee, stay
+Alway!
+Thy love goes with me where I go!
+In Thee have I the sparkling snow,
+The rains, the lofty hills, the valleys low,
+The babbling brooks, the leafy trees,
+The breeze!
+All these I have in Thee, dear Lord:
+The yellow wheat, the harvest horde,
+The Rose of Sharon, -- type of Thee, Adored!
+Round me what flowers of charming dyes
+Arise!
+I have the dear melodious lyre,
+The solitude of my desire,
+My waves, and mighty rocks, and brilliant fire,
+My birds that sing, my murmuring stream,
+-- Fair dream!
+My rainbow in my rain-washed skies,
+Horizon where my suns arise,
+Island in far-off seas, pearl I most prize,
+Springtime and butterflies, I see
+In Thee!
+Thy love is like the flowers of May,
+The palm-trees where the breezes play,
+The nights almost as bright and light as day.
+In Thee I find what shall not cease, --
+Sweet peace!
+Delicious grapes in Thee are mine,
+The purple burden of the vine;
+The virgin forest and the stately pine,
+The fair haired children, Lord, I see
+With Thee!
+In Thee I have the springs, the rills,
+The mignonette, the daffodils,
+The eglantine, the harebell on the hills,
+The trembling poplar, sighing low
+And slow.
+In Thee I have the waving wheat,
+The winds that murmur low and sweet.
+All Mary's flowers, once blooming at my feet,
+The glowing plain, the tender grass, I see
+In Thee.
+Beneath my habit's plain, coarse fold
+Thou givest me rare gems and gold.
+Within my clasp what brilliant rings I hold, --
+Pearls, sapphires, rubies, diamonds bright, --
+To-night.
+The lovely lake, the valley fair
+And lonely, in the lambent air,
+The ocean touched with silver everywhere,
+In Thee their treasures, all combined,
+I find.
+I have the barque on mighty seas,
+Its shining track, the shore, the breeze,
+The sun that sinks behind the leafy trees,
+Lighting the clouds, ere it expire,
+With fire.
+In Thee, the glorious stars are mine;
+And often at the day's decline
+I see, as through some veil silken and fine,
+Beckoning from heaven, our fatherland,
+Thy hand!
+O Thou Who governest all the earth,
+Who giv'st the mighty forests birth,
+And at one glance mak'st all their life of worth!
+On me Thou gazest, from above,
+With love.
+I have Thy Face, I have Thy Heart!
+Lo! I am wounded with thy dart;
+Thou dost Thy sacred kiss to me impart.
+I love Thee! Thee alone I view,
+Jesu!
+I go, to chant, with angel-throngs,
+The homage that to Thee belongs.
+Soon let me fly away, to join their songs!
+Oh, let me die of love, I pray,
+One day!
+Drawn by the light, the insect flies
+To meet the flame wherein it dies.
+So, to Thy light, my longing soul would rise;
+So would I gladly in that tire,
+Expire!
+I hear, e'en I, Thy last and least,
+The music from Thy heavenly feast;
+There, there, receive me as Thy loving guest!
+There, to my harp, oh, bid me sing,
+My King!
+Mary I go to see, and there
+The saints, and those once treasured here.
+Life is all past, and dried at last each tear.
+To me my home again is given, --
+In heaven!
+My God, Thy work complete!
+At last I seek Thy grace.
+Here at Thy holy feet,
+To-day I choose my place.
+From earth I sought in vain
+For ease, or joy, or rest;
+Sorrow and weary pain
+Alone have filled my breast.
+Yes, Magdalene, rest here,
+With contrite, humble heart.
+Men's scorn no longer fear!
+Choose thou the better part.
+Hereafter live in peace,
+Holy and pure, for Me;
+And I shall never cease
+To suffer, child, for thee.
+It is too much! My sore
+And burdened heart will break.
+Could I be born once more,
+Or die, for Thy sweet sake!
+But I have caused Thy grief,
+For me Thou art to die.
+How shall I find relief
+For all this misery?
+Yes, many, many tears
+Mine eyes have shed for thee
+Yet speedily thy fears
+Shall change to love for Me.
+Thy soul, made pure again,
+By one calm word of Mine,
+In heaven, free from pain
+Shall live a life divine.
+Holy and stainless One!
+How dare I seek Thy face?
+What have I ever done
+To win from Thee such grace?
+I spurned in other years
+Thy patient love for me;
+Now, naught have I but tears
+To offer Lord, to Thee.
+Those pure, repentant tears
+Shine brighter in My sight
+Than any star appears
+In radiant glow at night.
+Than precious pearls more dear
+Thy contrite heart to-day.
+O sorrowing soul, draw near!
+Thy guilt is washed away.
+Thou Lord of heaven and earth,
+What marvelous mystery!
+Hath nothing, then, the worth
+To win Thy heart from me?
+Behold, how full of charms
+The hill, and sea, and sky,
+The lambs that seek Thine arms
+The rivers flowing by!
+I see the lilies bloom,
+Unsullied, fair, and white;
+Yet My large heart hath room
+For thy heart's rose to-night.
+That rose at last has won
+My choice mid flowerets rare
+From all beneath the sun
+I choose its blossoms fair.
+The bird's pure, warbling voice
+Chants sweetest song to Thee;
+The rippling brooks rejoice,
+And praise Thee merrily;
+The lily of the vale
+Its perfumes hastes to bring
+And petals, starlike, pale,
+Before Thy feet to fling.
+On ivoried, regal throne,
+In glorious array,
+The great King Solomon
+Is less than these to-day;
+The daisies in the field
+Surpass his princely state;
+And yet to thee they yield,
+On thee they gladly wait!
+A virginal train above,
+With robes more white than snow,
+Give thee their constant love,
+And go where Thou dost go.
+I, of a blighted life,
+Offer the end to Thee,
+From its frail morning rife
+With bitter misery.
+I love the fires of dawn,
+So bright, so pure, so fair;
+But ah! I also love
+The radiant evening air.
+The soul, if it repent,
+Shall find at last its home,
+There where the sinless tent,
+'Neath heaven's o'erspreading dome.
+The angels there delight
+To show their love for Thee.
+Upon their phalanx white
+Thy blessing ever be!
+A sinful soul am I,
+Who naught have merited.
+Must Thou not pass me by?
+Is mine the children's bread?
+Higher than angels mount,
+Shalt thou ascend one day!
+Close, close to Love's own fount,
+Shalt thou abide alway!
+But first, on earth a while
+In prayer live silently,
+And thus gain souls from guile
+To give their hearts to Me.
+Oh! with what ardent zeal
+My heart at last doth burn!
+What deep desire I feel
+To give Thy love return!
+Yet souls to win for Thee,
+Too weak, too blind, am I.
+Lend Thou Thy heart to me; --
+None then shall pass me by.
+Lord, one word I ask! Behold my sister there!
+Now bid her, dearest Lord, to help me serve Thy meal.
+She thinks not of my tasks; for me she hath no care;
+She ought to wait on Thee; for me some pity feel!
+Dear Martha, hostess kind and good!
+Why should you thus your sister blame?
+True, naught she thinks about My food,
+Yet waits she on Me all the same.
+Ah, Lord divine and dear! tis this surprises me.
+Ought she not, then, awhile, to cease to dream and pray?
+Should she not choose what gift shall be her gift to Thee,
+Who lavishly dost give to her and me each day?
+Nay, Martha! listen to My Word!
+Your faithful, generous love I know;
+Yet doth your sister to her Lord
+As faithful love and homage show,
+Deep myst'ries are these words that greet mine ears to-day.
+I can not help but think, -- oh! let me tell my thought!
+Better to work good works than many prayers to say; --
+The love I feel for Thee must into deeds be wrought.
+True, Martha! works are needful here;
+I came, Myself, to work with care;
+Yet I would have this truth stand clear;
+One must transfigure work with prayer.
+I knew that I was right; for, did I idly rest,
+No charm should I possess in Thy benignant eyes;
+So I made haste, to serve for Thee, my holy Guest,
+Some pleasant food, to win Thy praise; -- tis all I prize.
+Generous your ardent soul, and good!
+Martha, your works show forth your worth;
+Yet would you know the only food
+That I desire to have on earth?
+One single work is needful here!
+Your sister, biding near My heart,
+In love's own prayer, divinely dear,
+Hath chosen thus the better part.
+Yes, this the part that is the best!
+So I declare, and Truth am I.
+Now, Martha, come and share her rest,
+Her blessed rest, for Love am I!
+At last I understand! O Jesus, Love supreme,
+Thy glance hath pierced my soul, Thy meaning now I see.
+My gifts are all too small, my services a dream;
+My heart the priceless gift that Thou wouldst have from me.
+Yes, tis thy loving heart I crave;
+For this I came from heaven above.
+The glories tis My right to have,
+I left, to seek your love, your love!
+Why, then, O Saviour-dear, if I may ask Thee this,
+Why, within Simon's house, didst greatly praise Marie?
+For surely in her life she gave Thee pain, I wis;
+And stormy days, in her, Thy sorrowing eyes must see
+Martha! I understand her heart,
+By pain and sin and sorrow rent;
+For souls love much if pardoned much,
+And sorely, sorely they repent.
+Amazed am I the more by Thy great love and power,
+For naught know I, dear Lord, of sin's wild strength and shame.
+What do I owe Thee, then Who, from my earliest hour,
+Hast shielded me in peace, and kept me free from blame?
+A soul kept pure through all its days, --
+Chief masterpiece of Love Divine, --
+Should give Me rapturous, endless praise,
+And wholly and alone be Mine.
+Yes, Martha, you have charmed My sight,
+By lifelong, stainless purity;
+Yet, while your soul is spotless white,
+Your sister hath humility!
+To win Thy love, dear Lord! through all my life to be,
+Earth's honors I will scorn, and all its pomps despise,
+And Mary's part will choose, while working still for Thee;
+Thy love alone shall be of value in mine eyes.
+Many the souls you thus shall claim
+From sin's dark haunts to seek My Face;
+And you shall bear afar the flame
+Of faith, and love's immortal grace.
+Thy voice, O Jesus Christ! is sweetest melody,
+That wins our love to Thee, and sets our hearts on fire.
+Abide Thou here alway, our Life on earth to be:
+Abide Thou here alway, our hearts' supreme Desire!
+True joy have I at Bethany,
+Where find I oft a welcome true;
+And in my Father's home shall be
+A wondrous blessing granted you.
+Yes, you the mystery comprehend
+That makes drear earth My precious prize;
+For souls of prayer are dear to Me,
+A vast reward for sacrifice.
+Beyond heaven's joys I prize such souls!
+Heaven's glories, one day, yours shall be;
+My goods your loving prayer controls,
+Your Spouse am I eternally.
+Here, faithful friends, ye gave Me meat;
+But, in the feast at heaven's board,
+Ye shall sit down to food more sweet,
+While on you waits your God and Lord.
+For us, poor exiles from our birth,
+God made the pretty little birds;
+Among the hills and dales of earth
+They sing His praises without words;
+But sometimes playful childish hands,
+Choosing the ones they like the best,
+Keep them in cages, where the bands
+Are gilded bars for these oppressed.
+O Jesus, little Brother dear!
+For us from Heaven didst Thou flee;
+Thou knowest well Thy bird-cage here
+Is Carmel, and Thy birds are we.
+Our cage is gilded not at all,
+Yet oh! how precious tis to me!
+To hill or plain from its high wail
+Not one of us would wish to flee.
+Let not the outer world intrude!
+No joy to us it now could bring.
+Child Jesus! in our solitude
+For Thee, for Thee alone, we sing.
+Thy tiny hand has us beguiled;
+Thy infant-charms no words can tell;
+Thy smile, most sweet and Holy Child!
+Has won Thy birds to love Thee well.
+Here finds the simple, candid soul
+The only object of its love;
+Here is the vulture's fierce control
+No longer dreaded by the dove.
+Upon the wings of burning prayer
+Theardent heart ascends on high,
+As swift the lark doth cleave the air,
+With sweet, enraptured, joyful cry.
+Here, in Thy praises to engage,
+The nightingale and veery came.
+O Little Jesus! in Thy cage
+Thy birds are carolling Thy Name.
+The little bird it always sings,
+Nor fear for its small meal doth know;
+A grain of wheat contentment brings;
+It sows not, spins not, here below.
+Within this cage where we have fled,
+Is all provided through Thy care;
+The one thing needful, Thou hast said,
+Is just to love Thee, Child most fair!
+So, through the hours, we sing Thy praise,
+With glad, pure spirits ever blest.
+We know the angels, all the days,
+Love Carmel's birds within their nest.
+Jesu! Thy bitter tears to dry,
+That sinful men have wrung from Thee,
+Thy birds to win back souls will try,
+By their sweet songs of ecstasy.
+One day, when earth and time are o'er,
+And Thy clear call to us is given,
+Then angel-hands shall ope the door;
+Thy birds shall take their flight to Heaven;
+And there, with charming, songful hosts
+Of little cherubs glad and gay,
+Thy happy birds from Carmel's coasts
+Shall praise Thy Holy Name alway.
+Rise, Joseph! heed my cry!
+All swiftly, silently,
+To Egypt take your flight!
+Depart, this very night!
+Herod his fury now,
+Is even to madness heaping;
+He longs to slay the Lamb
+In Mary's tendance sleeping,
+Take Mother and Child, and go
+From an impending woe.
+Wonders on wonders piled!
+Jesus, of Heaven the Lord,
+Now upon earth exiled,
+Flee, from a mortal's sword.
+So, unto God in flight,
+Oh, let us give our love;
+Let our white wings to-night
+Protect Him from above!
+Now bring the flowers most fair
+To strew before His way!
+A lullaby prepare,
+Of songs most sweet and gay!
+Console His Mother's heart
+By singing of His charms.
+How fair, how sweet, Thou art,
+Reposing in her arms!
+Oh, let us speed afar,
+For here dire perils are!
+Fly, on this very night,
+From dangers and from fright!
+The Virgin bears our Star,
+Beneath her veil afar,
+The Star of the elect,
+Whom longing hearts expect.
+Behold! Heaven's Lord
+Flees from a mortal's sword!
+I come, I come, to sing your charms divine,
+Blest Family who lure me to this place.
+In this drear desert, lo! to-night doth shine
+A Star more fair than heaven in all its grace.
+But who shall comprehend this mystery: --
+He came unto His own -- they bade Him go!
+A wanderer on the earth He made is He,
+And none discern His beauty here below.
+But if the great Thine empire now despise,
+Thou King of Heaven, Thou mystic promised Star!
+Long for Thy reign have looked. the tear-dimmed eyes,
+And long the unhappy sought Thee from afar.
+O Word Eternal! Wisdom true and deep!
+Thy gifts are here, but they are for the meek:
+The childlike soul, the tried, and them who weep,
+It is to them, one day, Thy voice shall speak.
+For Thou Thy wisdom often dost impart
+To ignorant men, if they but humble be;
+And Thou dost call the sinful to Thy Heart,
+Because in them Thine image Thou dost see.
+A day shall come, when, in the selfsame fold,
+The lamb beside the lion safe shall feed;
+And in Thy refuge here, this desert old,
+Thy Name shall call forth many a holy deed.
+O hidden God! what virginal souls, one day,
+Catching from Thy vast fire of love the flame,
+Shall hither haste, where Thou hast led the way;
+And all these wastes for their possession claim.
+Their ardent souls, their love like seraphs blest,
+Shall fill the angels with supreme delight;
+And hell shall tremble at their hymns, addrest
+Unto God's greater glory, day and night
+Then Satan shall, in frantic jealousy,
+Seek to deplete these houses of our Lord;
+But knows he not the power and majesty
+Of this frail Child, humble, unknown, ignored.
+He dreams not that a lowly virgin-heart
+Forever dwells in safety and in peace;
+He dreams not of the strength, beyond his art,
+She has from God, whose wonders never cease.
+It may be that, one day, Thy spouses dear
+Must share Thy exile, O Thou Holy Child!
+But none shall quench their love, that burns most clear
+Despite their exile and men's fury wild.
+Nor shall the vile world's sacrilegious spite
+Turn from their goal the virgins of the Lord;
+Nor ever soil their robes of spotless white,
+Nor mar their likeness to their King adored.
+Ungrateful world! thy reign is well nigh done
+Dost thou not see how this most holy Child
+Culls joyously these roses like the sun,
+These martyrs' palms, these lilies undefiled?
+Dost thou not see His faithful virgin band,
+Holding their burning lamps with love alight
+Dost thou not see heaven's portals openstand
+The saints to welcome in, to glory bright?
+O happy moment! joy that knows no shade!
+When the elect in gladness enter there;
+And for their love, the great reward is paid, --
+To see God's face, that promised Vision fair!
+Life's exile o'er, gone are all pain and woe;
+E'en faith itself, and hope itself, shall cease;
+But everlasting rest those souls shall know.
+The ecstasy of love and endless peace.
+Sisters! I bring to you the Adored,
+The Eternal God, so small, so weak;
+I plead for the Incarnate Word,
+Because as yet He cannot speak.
+To Jesus, exiled from His home,
+The cruel world no shelter grants;
+And so to Carmel's shade I come,
+To find the shelter that He wants.
+Ever your praise, your tenderness,
+Your welcome sweet, your warm caress,
+Be for this Child!
+Oh, burn with love, for He loves you,
+This Child, who is your God and Lord.
+Pathetic mystery! He who begs, to-night, of you,
+Is the Eternal Word!
+Come then, my Sisters! without fear,
+Each in her turn, to Jesus' feet,
+Offering your love to Him most dear,
+And you shall know His will so sweet,
+Yes, I will tell you the desires
+Of Jesus born amid the snow;
+For you are pure as angels are,
+And you can suffer too, you know!
+Ever your cares, your suffering,
+Andall your joys so light of wing,
+Be for this Child!
+Oh, burn with love, for He loves you,
+This Babe, who is your God and Lord!
+Pathetic mystery! He who begs, to-night, of you,
+Is the Eternal Word!
+Jesus, Christ, your only treasure,
+Asks one special gift of you.
+No gold throne was in the stable,
+Yet such treasure is His due.
+Sinners' souls are like the stable,
+Bare and cold in winter's snow,
+Off'ring to Him no soft shelter,
+No bright fire's cheerful glow.
+Souls of sinners, save them, Sister!
+That the throne our Lord desires;
+Seeks He, too, the royal welcome
+Of your pure heart's holy fires.
+He Who feeds the souls predestined
+With His Essence all Divine,
+Makes Himself the Infant Jesus
+To be your delight, and mine.
+Up in heaven His joy is perfect;
+Here below, a beggar He
+Quickly fetch some milk, dear Sister;
+Baby Jesus thirsts, you see.
+Ah! our little Brother Jesus
+Smiles on you. Noel! Noel!
+Down from heaven to earth He cometh
+In your childlike heart to dwell.
+You, dearest Sister! long to know
+What you can do for Jesus' sake,
+So joyfully I haste to tell
+How you His glorious smiles can wake.
+Go, catch for Him some charming birds,
+And in the stable let them sing,
+For they are types of children's souls,
+So dear to this Child Christ their King.
+Their pretty hymns, their baby prayers,
+His sleep like joy-bells gently break.
+Pray for them then; in heaven one day
+Those children's souls your crown will make.
+Sometimes, when all the skies are black
+With gloomy clouds, and no stars shine,
+Our little Jesus grieves alone, --
+He craves your love, yes, yours and mine.
+Then give to Him the light He wants,
+Be like a bright and shining star;
+And let your virtues, like a lamp,
+Shed welcoming radiance near and far.
+So may your rays lead souls to heaven,
+The sinful souls for whom He died.
+This Child Divine, our Morning Star,
+Asks you to be His star, His bride.
+MY little Sister, 'waiting there,
+Your gift for Bethlehem's Babe to hear,
+Your heart for His melodious lyre
+Is what He asks in accents clear.
+In heaven's high court swells up alway
+The angels' song with incense sweet;
+And yet He loves, in Carmel's shade,
+To hear your praises at His feet.
+So, dearest Sister! 'tis your heart,
+Whose melodies our Lord desires.
+By night, by day, consume away,
+With songs of love, in love's sweet fires.
+Your soul, dear, is a lily sweet, --
+Jesus and Mary love it well.
+Hear what the heavenly Bridegroom speaks
+Softly, yet clear as altar-bell; --
+Ah! if I love the lily white,
+Symbol of innocence like snow,
+Yet for the rose of penitence
+I also feel My heart aglow.
+Let your warm tears for sinners fall, --
+What joy your love will give Me then!
+So can I gather at My Will
+Those roses dear, the hearts of men.
+As by the shining of the sun
+Nature is glorified and gay;
+As by its radiance field and vale
+Grow fair and strong and green alway;
+So doth our Jesus, Son divine,
+Approach you with His sweet caress,
+Shining at His own matin hour,
+Your loving heart to heal and bless.
+Lo! He is born on Christmas morn,
+Your exiled soul to find and cheer,
+To fill your days with His warm rays:
+So be His smiling valley, dear!
+Lo! here on earth, 'neath other skies,
+In spite of storm and winter's snow
+Already our dear Little One
+Hath found some harvests here below.
+But, ah! to gather them He needs
+Reapers on fire with quenchless love,
+And glad to suffer or to die
+For Him who reigns in Heaven above
+Noel Noel to Carmel's shade
+I come, because His will is thine.
+Sister! form apostolic souls,
+To reap the harvest fields divine.
+I want some sweet and cooling fruit,
+A bunch of grapes so smooth and fair,
+To moisten the small, thirsting lips
+Of this dear Babe within my care.
+Your lot, my Sister! oh, how blest,
+For those choice grapes He asks of you,
+Within His vineyard to be prest!
+The hearts of all men are His due.
+His tiny hand like snow-flake white
+Upon your throbbing heart shall lie,
+And from all touch of earth's delight
+Absorb it into His on high.
+Oh! we how with each morning's light
+Jesus, the Child divinely fair,
+Into a little snow-white host
+Transforms Himself, that you may share
+His life; and yet with greater love,
+He longs to change you into Him.
+Your heart His precious treasure is,
+His happiness, His joy supreme.
+Noel! Noel! from heaven He comes,
+To fill your soul with glorious light;
+The Lamb of God to you descends,
+Now be His pure white host to-night!
+Ah! the wicked world despises
+Love that Jesus feels for men;
+And His heavenly eyes are moistened
+With hot bitter tears for them;
+And His little arms He stretches,
+Dearest Sister, unto you.
+Shall I tell you what the comfort
+That I think He seems to sue?
+See! His look is asking of you,
+And His sweet eyes seem to say:
+Smile on all! That smile suffices
+To wipe all My tears away.
+Would you like to be the plaything
+Of this Child so fair and sweet?
+Would you, dear one! like to please Him?
+Then lie humbly at His feet.
+If He chooses to caress you,
+If He lifts you to His breast,
+Yes, if He seems tired of you,
+Count yourself among the blest.
+Be His happy Christmas plaything,
+Seeking just to do His will;
+And in heaven with countless blessings
+He, your happy heart, will fill.
+Oft I see the Baby Jesus
+Wakeful in His manger bed.
+Would you know the reason? Dear ones,
+There's no pillow for His head.
+Ah! I know your ardent longing
+To console Him night and day.
+Give your heart to be His pillow,
+That is what He wants alway;
+And be ever meek and humble,
+Then you will be greatly blest.
+You will hear Him softly saying:
+In your heart how sweet My rest!
+All the earth with snow is covered,
+Everywhere the white frosts reign;
+Winter and his gloomy courtiers
+Hold their court on earth again.
+But for you has bloomed the Flower
+Of the fields, Who comes to earth
+From the fatherland of heaven,
+Where eternal spring has birth.
+Near the Rose of Christmas, Sister!
+In the lowly grasses hide,
+And be like the humble flowerets, --
+Of heaven's King the lowly bride!
+Day by day, at morn and even,
+Still the holy words are said:
+O our Father up in Heaven!
+Give to us our daily bread,
+Yet your God, become your Brother,
+Suffers hunger as you do;
+And His childish voice is asking
+For a little bread from you.
+Ah! my Sister! Jesus wishes
+Just your love, -- how great your bliss!
+Let your soul be pure and spotless,
+For His daily bread is this.
+Children like to have you place them,
+Near a mirror clear and fair;
+Then they greet with childish rapture
+The bright face that they see there.
+Come, then, to the favored stable,
+Let your soul like crystal glow.
+Let the Word, become an Infant,
+In your heart His likeness know!
+Sister, be the living image,
+Of your Spouse, -- His mirror clear;
+All the beauty of your Jesus
+He would have in you appear.
+The great and noble of the earth,
+In palaces they proudly dwell;
+The poor and lonely find their home
+In hut, in cabin, and in cell.
+So in a humble cattle-shed
+The Christ-Child lies, this Christmas night;
+Leaving His palace in the skies,
+He veils His glory's dazzling light.
+Your heart loves poverty, I know;
+You count yourself divinely blest;
+So Jesus finds a palace-home
+Within your humble, happy breast.
+Sinners will crown with thorns, one day
+The holy, heavenly head of Christ.
+What pains and sorrows will be His,
+To gain us graces all unpriced.
+Now may your virginal sweet soul
+Make Him to-night His woes forget;
+And for His royal lily-crown
+Your Sisters' souls before Him set!
+Draw very near to Jesus' throne,
+To charm His lovely tear-dimmed eyes;
+Make of these virgin souls His crown
+Of snow-white lilies beyond price!
+Sister dear, the little ones
+Like so much the sweet bonbons!
+Bring some then, and quickly fill
+Jesus' small white hand to-night!
+By His smile He doth invite
+You to do His childish will.
+This wee King, so frail, so weak,
+Carmel's candies He doth seek; --
+What they are, you surely guess!
+Give Him your austerity
+And your holy poverty, --
+He your gift will quickly bless.
+Little Jesus, dear, from you
+Nothing more doth softly sue
+Than a very sweet caress.
+Give Him all your love to-day,
+And your gift He will repay;
+With His love your soul will bless.
+If a Sister weep to-night,
+Sore at heart where all are bright,
+Ah! at once, with tenderness,
+Beg the little Holy Child
+That His small hand undefiled
+Dry her tears with its caress.
+Many hearts God's favors want,
+Would have Jesus always grant
+Gifts and presents without end.
+If He seem awhile to sleep,
+Few their watch beside Him keep;
+Few remain His faithful friend.
+Get Him sleep that none may break;
+Though we know His Heart doth wake;
+Even in dreams our Jesus weeps.
+So His cradle, Sister, be!
+Guard the sweet Lamb tenderly,
+Smiling on Him while He sleeps.
+See the dear Child's tiny hand
+Point -- to make you understand --
+At the rough and rasping straw.
+Won't you grant His wish to-night,
+And bring linens pure and white,
+O'er His manger-bed to draw?
+Make excuses kind and true,
+Whatsoe'er your Sisters do,
+Loving all for Christ their King.
+Thus your ardent charity,
+And your true simplicity,
+Are the linens you can bring.
+Our sweet Jesus, Fire of love,
+Light and Warmth of heaven above,
+In the stable, cold is He!
+Yet, in the far, shining sky,
+Angels, living flames on high,
+Wait on Him in ecstasy.
+Here on earth tis you must light
+Blazing fires of love to-night,
+In your heart, all free from sin;
+Little shivering Jesus warm
+In the shelter of your arm,
+By the souls your prayers shall win!
+Well we know that children small
+Eagerly for cakes will call!
+This dear Child will not disdain
+Even such a gift to-night!
+Offer it with great delight;
+You His happy smile will gain.
+Know you what to this Child-King
+Real content will surely bring?
+'Tis obedience prompt and true.
+As He bowed to Mary's will,
+So do you the rule fulfil, --
+Such the cake He asks of you.
+In the pretty floweret's cup,
+When the morning sun comes up,
+You can see the tiny bee,
+Flitting fast through summer hours,
+Visiting the woodland bowers,
+Gathering honey steadily.
+Ah! of love your treasure make;
+And, each day, for Christ's dear sake,
+To His holy cradle come.
+All the honey of your love
+Give, sweet bee! to this meek Dove;
+Make His Heart your hive and home!
+Would you charm the Lamb of God?
+In the path that He hath trod
+Tread to-day with willing feet!
+Leaving all things here below,
+Seek alone His will to know;
+Do His will surpassing sweet!
+O my Sister! be His own;
+Seek for naught but God alone!
+He will give you perfect rest.
+Mary, leaning o'er His bed,
+Will see another childish head,
+Close to His, and oh! how blest.
+The Angel, taking again the Child Jesus in his arms, sings whatfollows:
+The dear Child Jesus thanks you all,
+For all your gifts, this Christmas night;
+And all your names His tiny hand
+Within His book of life will write.
+Since in this Carmel He hath found
+Such joy and peace,
+Rewards in heaven He'll store for you,
+That shall not cease.
+And if you ever faithful are
+To all the vows you make to-night,
+Then love will give you wings to fly
+Unto a far sublimer height.
+One day, in heaven's dear fatherland,
+Your exile o'er,
+Jesus and Mary you shall see
+Forevermore!
+Thou Word of God, Thou Glory of God!
+In awe I gazed on Thee above;
+And now I see that Glory of God,
+That Word of God, made Man through love.
+O Child, whose light doth blind the sight
+Of angels in high heaven divine!
+Thou'rt come to save the world to-night,
+And who can fathom that love of Thine?
+In swaddling bands
+The Child-God fies.
+Lord of all lands!
+Trembling before Thy face I veil mine eyes.
+Yes, who can fathom this marvellous thing?
+God makes Himself a little Child,
+He, the eternal, almighty King,
+Afar from His own heaven exiled!
+Fain would I give Thee love for love!
+Thee will I guard by day and night,
+My utter fealty to prove,
+Thou tiny Jesu, Light of Light!
+Thy cradle so dear
+Draws angels anear.
+O Child-God! now
+Trembling before that humble crib I bow.
+While earth has power from heaven to bring
+My King to want and cold and woe,
+Heaven holds no longer anything
+To keep me from that world below.
+My wings shall shield Thy Baby-head;
+Thee will I follow everywhere;
+Beneath Thy tiny feet I'll fling
+The sweetest flowers and most fair.
+Oh, would some radiant star might fall,
+To form Thy cradle, Baby bright!
+Would I the dazzling snow could call,
+To be Thy curtains pure and white!
+Would all the lofty hills might bow
+In lowly homage at Thy feet!
+Oh, would the fields might bloom for Thee,
+Celestial blossoms heavenly sweet!
+For all the flowers are smiles of God,
+Are distant echoes from His throne,
+Are notes that wander far abroad
+From that great harp He holds alone.
+Those notes of harmony divine
+Relate His goodness unto men,
+And in their melody combine
+To tell His saving love again.
+O that sweet melody,
+Exquisite harmony,
+Silence of flowers!
+Ye tell His greatness, His wonders, His powers!
+Well know I, Jesu! that Thy friends,
+Thy dearest friends, are living flowers.
+Thou travellest to earth's farthest ends,
+To cull them for heaven's fadeless bowers.
+Souls are the flowers with beauty rife
+That draw Thee from the heavens high;
+Thy tiny hand first gave them life,
+And Thou for them wilt gladly die.
+Mystery ineffable!
+Thou, Word adorable,
+Surely shalt one day weep
+When Thou the harvest of those flowers shalt reap.
+Yes, from the morning of Thy days, dear Child!
+Thy blessed Face is bathed in burning tears.
+Those tears upon that Face all undefiled
+Still shall flow on throughout Thy earthly years.
+O Face divine!
+So fair Thou art
+From angel eyes
+The glories of the skies depart.
+Under its veil of anguish sore and dread,
+I see Thy loveliness all charms above;
+In Thy worn, pallid Face, O Jesu dead!
+I see Thy Child-face in its perfect love.
+For pain to Thee, my Jesus! was so dear
+That even Thy Baby-eyes the future saw,
+And Thou didst long to drink the chalice drear,
+Thy very dreams could Thee to Calvary draw.
+O wonderful dream!
+Thou Child of a day,
+From Thy face but one beam
+Thrills my heart with its ray.
+Angel of man's Redeemer! weep no more.
+I come with comfort for sad hearts and sore.
+This Child shall yet gain
+All men's hearts as their King;
+He shall arise and reign
+Almighty, triumphing.
+O God! concealed in childish guise before us,
+I see Thee glorious,
+O'er all things victorious.
+I shall roll back the great tomb's rocky door,
+I shall behold Thy lovely Face once more,
+And I shall sing,
+And I shall then rejoice,
+When I shall see my King,
+And hear again His voice.
+Thy childish eyes, though dim to-night with tears,
+Shall shine with heavenly light throughout the eternal years.
+O Word of God!
+Thy speech, like burning flame,
+Shall sound one day abroad,
+And all Thy love proclaim.
+Gaze on, dear Angel, heavenward-flown,
+Gaze, while our King ascends on high;
+But I, to seek His altar-throne,
+Down to the distant earth will fly.
+Veiled in His Eucharist I see
+The Almighty Lord, the Undefiled,
+The Master of all things that be,
+More tiny than the humblest child.
+Here will I dwell in this biest piace,
+The sanctuary of my King;
+And here, before His veiled Face,
+My hymns of ardent love will sing.
+Here, to my heaven-strung angel-lyre,
+My praise I'll chant, by night, by day,
+To Him, the Feast for saint's desire,
+To Him, the sinner's Hope and Stay.
+Would that by miracle, I too
+Could feed upon this heavenly Bread;
+Could taste that Blood forever new,
+That Blood which was for all men shed!
+At least, with some pure longing soul,
+I'll share my fires of love divine,
+That so, all fearless, glad and whole,
+It may approach its Lord and mine.
+Soon shall the awful day of judgment come,
+This wicked world shall feel the avenging flame;
+All men shall hear pronounced their endless doom,
+And these to bliss shall pass, and those to shame.
+Then shall we see our God in glory bright,
+No longer hidden in this cradle small;
+Then shall we sing His triumph after fight,
+And then proclaim Him Lord and King of all.
+As stars shine out when furious storms are passed,
+His eyes shall shine, now veiled in blood and tears;
+And His eternal splendor shall at last
+Appear again, after these anguished years.
+Upon the clouds our Jesus shall be borne,
+Beneath the standard of the cross on high;
+And evil men who hailed Him once in scorn
+Shall know their awful judge is drawing nigh.
+Ah, ye shall tremble, habitants of earth!
+Ah, ye shall tremble on that final day,
+No longer able to withstand the wroth
+Of this dear Child, the God of love to-day.
+For you He chose to tread the path of pain,
+Seeking your hearts alone, to Him so dear:
+But when at last He comes to earth again,
+How shall ye quail before His Face in fear!
+O Jesu, deign to hear the prayer,
+That we, Thy Angels offer Thee!
+Thy people save, Thy people spare,
+Thou who didst come the world to free!
+With Thy small hand avert this dart,
+Appease this Angel with the sword;
+Save every meek and contrite heart
+That seeks Thy mercy, dearest Lord!
+My faithful Angels, tried and true!
+Far from the heavenland of your birth,
+Hear, for the first time, speak to you
+The Eternal Word made Man on earth!
+I love you well, O spirits pure!
+Angels from heaven's high courts above!
+Yet men I love with love as sure,
+Yea, with an everlasting love.
+I made their infinite desires,
+Their souls were made at My decree;
+A heart that kindles with My fires
+Becomes a heaven on earth for Me.
+Dear Angel of My childhood's hours!
+I grant the answer to thy prayer.
+Many shall be the innocent flowers
+I will preserve all lily-fair.
+Yes, I will cull those blossoms gay,
+Fresh with their pure baptismal dew;
+And they shall bloom in endless day,
+In ecstasy forever new.
+Their fair corollas, silvery bright,
+More brilliant than a thousand fires,
+Shall be the Milky Way of light
+'Mid all the starry heavenly choirs.
+I must have lilies for My crown, --
+The Lily of the Field am I!
+And I must have to grace my throne,
+A sheaf of lilies in the sky.
+The Angel of the Holy Face asks pardon for sinners.
+Thou who dost gaze upon My Face
+In ecstasy of seraph love,
+Leaving for love of it thy place
+Of glory in My heaven above!
+Thy prayer I hear, I grant thy plea.
+Each soul that on My name shall call
+Shall find relief, shall be set free
+From Sin's dark curse, from Satan's thrall.
+Thou who dost seek to honor here
+My Cross, My Passion, My bruised Face:
+Learn now this mystery, angel dear!
+Each soul that suffers shares thy grace.
+The radiance of its pain borne now,
+In heaven upon thy face shall shine;
+The martyr's halo decks thy brow,
+His glory shall be drawn from thine.
+Dear Angel of the Eucharist!
+Thou, thou dost charm Me every hour;
+Thy song, by heaven's own breezes kissed,
+Over My suffering soul hath power.
+Ah, the great thirst of My desires!
+I crave, I crave, the hearts of men.
+Dear Angel, melt them with thy fires,
+And win them to My Heart again!
+Would each anointed priest might be
+Like Seraphim beyond the skies,
+What time he comes to offer Me
+My pure and holy Sacrifice!
+To work such miracle of grace,
+It needs must be that night and day,
+Souls near the attar seek a place
+To watch and suffer, weep and pray.
+Back to My Father I shall go,
+Thither to draw the men I love;
+And heaven's long bliss they then shall know,
+When I shall welcome them above.
+When the last hour of time appears,
+My flock shall come again to Me;
+And I shall be, for endless years,
+Their Light, their Life, their Ecstasy
+Goodness supreme! and dost Thou then forget
+Sinners must meet at last, the doom decreed?
+Dost Thou forget, in Thy great love, that yet,
+Their number is nigh infinite indeed?
+At the last judgment I shall punish crime,
+Evil before My wrath shall shrink and bow;
+My sword is ready . . . Jesu! tis the time.
+My sword is ready to avenge Thee now.
+Great Angel, turn aside thy sword
+I am the Messenger of Peace.
+The nature taken by thy Lord
+'Tis not thy work to judge. O cease!
+Tis I shall judge the human race,
+Jesus My name, all names above.
+I grant My elect ones boundless grace.
+For men I died, and I am Love!
+Dost thou not know that, every day,
+The blasphemies of faithless lips
+Before one love-glance pass away,
+And find therein assured eclipse?
+The souls I choose, the souls I spare,
+Shall reign in glory like the sun.
+Tis Mine own life I give them there,
+And they and I shall there be one.
+Before Thee, Child divine, the Cherubim bow lowly,
+Lost in amaze as they Thy love all boundless see.
+Fain would we die like Thee, on Calvary's summit holy,
+Fain would we die like Thee!
+REFRAIN.
+Sung by all the Angels.
+How great the bliss of man, Thy low and humble creature.
+In ecstasy would fain each seraph undefiled
+Put off, O Jesus sweet, his grand angelic nature,
+Would fain become a child!
+Happy, happy am I,
+Jeanne the shepherdess!
+How swift my lambkins fly
+To meet my kind caress.
+How light my little crook;
+How cool this verdant grove,
+Beside whose babbling brook
+In solitude I rove.
+A lovely crown I weave
+Of field-flowers, fair and sweet;
+What joy is mine to leave
+That crown at Mary's feet!
+Oh, how I love the flowers,
+The birds, the rippling stream
+The skies above these bowers
+As fair as angel's dream.
+The valleys and the rills
+Rejoice my longing eyes;
+The summits of the hills,
+They seem to touch the skies!
+But hark! What voices come
+Upon the evening breeze?
+Do angels seek my home
+With melodies like these?
+I question air and space,
+I gaze into the skies;
+And yet no slightest trace
+Of angels greets my eyes.
+Ah, past those clouds that bar
+And veil them from my sight,
+Would I might fly afar
+To realms of radiant light!
+Thy pure sweet voice to heaven has pierced, dear child,
+From this time forth committed to our care!
+Thine angel guardian, ever undefiled,
+Has borne to God on high thy earnest prayer.
+Down from His heavenly palace we have flown,
+From His high court on His eternal hill;
+For by our voices He to thee makes known
+His holy will.
+Thou must go forth to save thy fatherland,
+To guard the faith, uphold God's honor here.
+Thou as a conqueror in His sight shall stand,
+Preserved by Him and His own Mother dear.
+Oh, dry thy tears, take comfort, tender heart!
+Beyond these clouds gaze into heaven's delight;
+In our ecstatic chants thou shalt have part,
+Who by God's grace shalt conquer in the fight.
+These sweet refrains thy soul shall fortify
+Against approaching combat fierce and dire.
+Jeanne! thou must suffer. Seek, then, from on high
+A love like fire!
+For the pure soul, in time's long dreary night,
+Its only glory is, Christ's cross to bear;
+And, in heaven's endless day, with splendor bright
+That cross shall shine all radiant and fair.
+Michael am I, the guardian of France,
+Great Captain of the armies of the skies;
+Against hell's troops I march with sword and lance,
+And the old serpent glares with curious eyes.
+Once Satan far above the starry world
+Desired to reign, higher than seraphs trod;
+But, like a thunderbolt, at him I hurled
+These words: " Oh, who is like to God!
+At that same moment vengeance, dread, divine,
+Oped hell's abyss and thither thrust him deep.
+For that proud fallen angel, ah! no mercies shine;
+For him, what eyes shall weep?
+Pride tore down Satan from his lofty place,
+And of that morning-star an outcast made;
+But when man, too, had trifled with God's grace,
+Pity and comfort were to him displayed.
+The Eternal Word, the Father's Equal Son,
+Clothing Himself with poor humanity,
+Back to His Father's heart the exiles won
+By His profound humility.
+Now that same Saviour deigns to succor France
+But not by any mighty soldier's hand.
+He hath cast down the proud; He gives the conquering lance
+Unto a child's frail hand.
+Jeanne! God has chosen thee His work to do.
+Thou must depart, obedient to His call;
+Unto thy fields, thy flocks, must bid adieu,
+To this dear vale, these woods, thy home, thy all.
+Be strong, go forth and save thy fatherland!
+Go forth -- fear naught; all danger now despise!
+Go! in my might beside thee I shall stand.
+See how the foe before thee flies!
+Take thou this sword and bear it to the fray; --
+Long hath God kept it for thy hand to bring.
+Take for thy standard, child! this pure white flag to-day;
+Then go, -- and find the king!
+For Thee alone, O God, I quit my father's side,
+I leave my cherished friends, my parish-church so dear,
+For Thee I leave my flocks, my valleys green and wide,
+My peaceful home, -- to fight. Forgive me, if I fear!
+Instead of my white lambs, I must lead armed men;
+To Thee I sacrifice my joy, my eighteen years.
+I shall not see, alas! these flowery fields again;
+To serve Thee, Lord, I go, mid shields and swords and spears.
+My voice, that mingles now with the soft breezes' breath,
+Shall soon resound amid war's clamors wild and drear;
+The piercing, frightful cries of battle and of death,
+Instead of sweet church-bells, shall reach my straining car.
+Yet, I desire the cross; the sacrifice is light;
+To suffer for Thee, Lord, ready and glad am I.
+Now deign to call Thy child to this sublime delight!
+Jesus, my Love, my All, for Thee I long to die.
+Thou must depart, O Jeanne! the time has come.
+It is the Lord Who arms thee for the fray.
+Soon shalt thou see our blest, eternal home!
+Daughter of God! fear not to die to-day.
+Thou, child, with Him shalt reign above.
+Wherever goes the Lamb, thy virgin soul shall go.
+Like us, thou, too, shalt sing the love
+And power of God most high, where crystal streamlets flow.
+Thy name, O Jeanne! on heaven's scroll is placed,
+With all who died that France might live for aye;
+There shall thy brow with glory's crown be graced,
+Like royal queen upon her nuptial day.
+With joy our loving eyes can see
+The radiance that even now upon thy head streams down;
+And from high heaven we bring to thee
+The martyr's glorious palm,
+The martyr's crown.
+Before the victory must come the fight,
+Not yet the crown, not yet the palm can be.
+Win them where honor doth defend the right.
+Jeanne! dost thou hear the bugle call to thee?
+Thee will we guard throughout the fray;
+And splendid victories shall thy banner grace.
+On thy pure brow, one happy day,
+Our hand the glorious aureole shall place.
+With you, dear saints, no foe I fear;
+Upon the Lord of hosts I wait.
+What time the battle draweth near,
+His arm shall send deliverance great.
+Oh, how I love my fatherland,
+France, oldest daughter of the cross;
+That love to sacrifice is fanned;
+For her I count as gain all loss.
+Ah, no! I fear not now to die,
+Who long, dear God, Thy Face to see;
+Yet, as I go, oh ! hear my cry:
+Comfort my mother tenderly!
+And thou, St. Michael, strengthen me.
+Hark! for already all the elect in heaven
+Raise high their joyous chant, because they hear
+The illustrious name of Martyr gladly given,
+By Rome's great Pontiff, to this maiden dear.
+I hear the universe declare
+The virtues of this maid in warlike armor drest;
+I hear God grant to her the rare
+And grand and glorious title, Jeanne the Blest.
+In those great days sore suff'ring France shall know,
+And impious deeds shall make her fail and faint.
+Then shall thy glory, Jeanne, more splendid grow,
+And all pure souls shall then invoke the Saint.
+The voices mount towards the skies,
+Mingling with angel-choirs, whose songs our hopes enhance.
+O Jeanne of Arc, now hear our cries!
+A second time, a second time, save France!
+All honor and all glory be
+To Thee, the Eternal King of kings!
+For Thou hast given the victory
+To me, a frail and feeble thing.
+And thou, dear Mother, pure as snow,
+Most lovely star, sublimely bright!
+Oh, thou hast been my light below,
+Protecting me in danger's night.
+Thou, Queen, whose glories ne'er shall fail,
+When shall mine eyes thy splendors see?
+When shall I rest beneath thy veil,
+Never again to part from thee?
+Hail, Mary! Holy Mother, hail!
+My exiled spirit fain would fly
+To heavenly joys that have no end;
+Naught here its needs can satisfy, --
+It craves for God, its perfect Friend.
+But, ere that sweet reward begin,
+I long to combat for Him here,
+For Him unnumbered souls to win,
+And find Him dearer and more dear.
+My exile here will pass away,
+As the day passes and is gone;
+Then, up the radiant, sunlit way,
+My happy soul shall hasten on,
+To see my God in endless day.
+My voices this foretold: I am a prisoner here,
+No aid can I expect, except, my God, from Thee;
+For love of Thee alone, I left my father dear;
+My flower-decked fields, blue skies, my flocks, no more I see.
+For Thee I left my home and her who gave me birth;
+Then, lifting in my hand the standard of Thy choice,
+Lord, in Thy holy Name, I led an army forth,
+And far-famed generals then gave credence to my voice.
+Behold my recompense -- this gloomy prison-place,
+The price of all my toils, my prayers, my blood, my tears!
+No more my flowery fields my longing eyes shall face,
+Nor shall I see the home of all my childhood years.
+No more shall I behold the mountains far away,
+Whose distant summits seemed to pierce the azure sky;
+And I shall hear no more the church-bells sweetly play.
+How soft upon the air those holy notes swept by!
+Here, in this gloomy cell, the star I seek in vain,
+That used, at vesper hour, to shine so clear and fair;
+In vain I seek the leaves, that when upon the plain
+Beside my flock I slept, gave cooling shelter there.
+Here, when at last I sleep after long bitter weeping,
+Of morning's flowers I dream, and perfumes of the dawn;
+But then my clanking chains disturb that happy sleeping, --
+I wake -- my dream is past -- the verdant fields are gone.
+Lord, for Thy love I go, martyrdom to embrace;
+For Thee I dare to meet the lingering death of fire.
+Now but one wish is mine, -- to see Thee face to face,
+No more to part from Thee: -- behold my heart's desire!
+To die for love of Thee, -- what happier lot than this?
+I will take up my cross, and walk where Thou hast trod.
+Ah! how I long to die, and enter into bliss!
+Ah! how I long to die, and thus to see my God!
+We have come down from heaven's eternal height,
+To smile on thee and bear thee to thy rest.
+See in our hands the immortal crown of light,
+Designed to grace thy brow, O maiden blest!
+Come with us, virgin pure and fair!
+Oh! come where saints and martyrs trod;
+Come unto joys beyond compare,
+Come unto life most fair,
+Daughter of God!
+Hot burns the fire about thy tender frame,
+But far more hotly burns thy holy love;
+Soon Christ will call thee to Him by thy name,
+And heavenly dews shall soothe thee from above.
+An angel comes to set thee free
+From every pain; from torture wild.
+Behold, the palm descends to thee!
+Look up! thy Saviour see,
+Great-hearted child!
+O virgin-martyr! one brief moment's pain
+Thee shall conduct to heaven beside thy Lord.
+Thy death saves France. See! heaven opes again
+To her lost children ransomed by thy sword.
+To my eternal home I fly;
+Angelic faces meet my view
+In God's great Name for France I die!
+O Mary, now be nigh!
+"Jesu! Jesu!"
+I answer from My throne thy voice that calls My name.
+I break thy iron bands, thy bitter foes I shame.
+Fly, fly thou pure white dove, to Me, thy Spouse, thy King!
+Come, reign with Me in heaven, where Saints thy praise shall sing.
+O Jeanne, thy angel brings thee grace;
+And I, the Judge of all thy race,
+Beside My own throne give thee place,
+And this proclaim:
+Even in thee I saw love's holy flame.
+Thou shalt be crowned. Oh, come to Me!
+Thy tears My hand shall wipe away;
+My kiss divine I give to thee;
+I crown with joy thy griefs to-day.
+With thy companions come
+To My eternal home;
+In heavenly valleys roam,
+Following the Lamb.
+Soul, well-beloved by Me,
+Lo! I have ransomed thee!
+Sing the new song, and be
+Where'er I am.
+Past is thy fleeting shame!
+Angels exalt thy name,
+Singing thy saintly fame,
+Close to My throne.
+Ah, timid shepherdess!
+Virgin in warrior's dress!
+Thy name the world shall bless,
+Heavenward blown.
+Ah, timid shepherdess!
+Virgin in warrior's dress!
+All heaven is now thine own.
+The immortal crown to thee, O Jeanne! we bear;
+Thou martyr of high God! to thee the palm we bring;
+A glorious throne for thee our loving hands prepare,
+Beside the King.
+Rest now in heaven at last, rest now in heaven, pure bride,
+Escaped forevermore from every net and snare!
+In endless peace behold! the living waters glide
+'Mid fields bestrewn with flowers most fair!
+Take thou thy flight; expand thy wings of snow;
+For swiftly shalt thou speed from star to golden star.
+Through heaven's eternal space, all joyous shalt thou go.
+Fly now afar!
+No cruel foes are here, no gloomy prison walls;
+The shining seraph hosts hail thee their sister blest;
+For thee, O spouse of Christ: thy Well-Beloved calls.
+Find now with Him eternal rest!
+He is my Own . . . . what ecstacy divine!
+All heaven is mine own!
+All heaven is thine own!
+The angels and the saints, Mary and God, are mine.
+They are mine own!
+Upon the far-off earth ages have passed away,
+Since thou didst pass from thence to heaven's eternal joy,
+A thousand years in heaven seem but one little day.
+O endless day, without alloy!
+O endless day, without or cloud or shade,
+No power can snatch from me thy glory all divine!
+The passing show of earth from off my sight doth fade,
+And heaven is mine!
+And heaven is thine!
+In heaven remember, Jeanne, your fatherland,
+Remember all her valleys decked with flowers;
+Recall the smiling plains, the mountains grand,
+You left, to dry her tears, in other hours.
+Remember how your arm saved France from deadly foes;
+How, like an angel sent from heaven, you cured her woes!
+Hear, in her night of pain,
+France call on you again:
+Remember now!
+Remember those great victories you won,
+Rheims, Orleans; those memorable days,
+When, in God's name, grand deeds by you were done,
+Crowning your land with laurels and with bays.
+Now, far away from you, I suffer and I sigh.
+Come once again to save, who once for me didst die!
+Deign now to break my chains,
+And all my present pains
+Remember now!
+My arms with fetters bound, to you I cry,
+Dim are my eyes with tears, oh, bring relief!
+No longer great among earth's queens am I,
+And mine own children pierce my heart with grief.
+No more for God they care; their Mother they despise.
+O Jeanne, compassionate my myriad miseries!
+Daughter of noble heart,
+Oh, come, and take my part.
+I hope in thee.
+Thy Church, O conquering God! through all the earth,
+Begs Thee to crown with the saint's royal crown,
+A virgin, martyr, warrior, whose true worth
+In heaven's high courts e'en now hath won renown.
+Our tumults calm;
+Her cause advance!
+The halo and the palm
+Give unto Jeanne of France!
+For guilty France we do not ask from Thee
+A mighty conquerer with mail-clad horde.
+Far better help Jeanne's prayer can gain than he!
+One martyr doth outshine all heroes, Lord!
+Jeanne is Thy glorious handiwork alone;
+A heart of fire, a soldier's soul of steel,
+Thou gavest to Thine handmaid, all Thine own,
+With lily and laurel crowned, for woe or weal.
+Beside her flock she heard the high command, --
+Voices from heaven called her to the fray;
+So she left all, to save her fatherland;
+Conquered by her, the foe fled far away.
+To martial hosts she brought God's saving grace;
+Her eyes like heaven, her words like burning flame,
+Her holiness like theirs who see God's Face.
+Bowed sinful souls in penitence and shame.
+(O marvel ne'er before in history told!)
+A kingdom's crown and glory all undone,
+From the strong grasp of the invaders bold,
+By a young maiden's feeble arm are won.
+Not thy great victories, O Jeanne so blest!
+Thy countrymen to celebrate are come;
+But thy true glories here they would attest,
+Thy purity, thy love, thy martyrdom.
+Though she saved France, hers was yet loftier grace,
+The gift Christ gave to those who loved Him best,
+Beside His cross to have the nearest place,
+He gave to Jeanne, before He gave her rest.
+In that last torture of consuming fire
+She heard her "voices" speak once more her name,
+And left earth's exile for her heart's desire,
+Angel of France! up that steep path of flame.
+Daughter of God! deign now our voice to hear!
+Descend to us with thy sweet heavenly glance!
+Come, and convert the land to thee so dear!
+A second time, a second time, save France!
+By God's great power
+In thee displayed,
+Save France! O come, save France,
+Thou saintly warrior-maid!
+Glorious' O thou strong child of God! wast thou,
+When English hosts to meet thee did not dare;
+Yet, in thy father's fields, -- remember now, --
+Once weak and tender lambs were in thy care.
+Of all the weak
+Be the defence!
+In hearts of children meek,
+Preserve their innocence!
+Sweet martyr! keep our convents in thy care!
+Our virgins are thy sisters, each thine own,
+And like to thine the object of their prayer, --
+To see God reign in every heart alone.
+This their desire,
+All souls to save.
+Now let them share thy fire,
+Apostle, martyr brave!
+When holy Church shall give thee crown and palm,
+How swiftly every fear in us will faint!
+Then can we sing in loud afid rapturous psalm,
+To Jeanne, our virgin, martyr, warrior-saint: --
+God grants us hope
+Through thee today!
+Saint Jeanne, Saint Jeanne of France,
+Pray for thy country, pray!