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Post by Hildegard on Mar 20, 2019 2:15:57 GMT
MY SONG OF TODAY
Booklet of Poems by St. Therese of the Child Jesus taken from a cassette tape translated from French to English:
JUNE 1894
1. My life is an instant, a fleeting hour, My life is a moment that escapes from me and flies away. Thou know, O my God that to love Thee on earth, I only have today!
2. Oh, I love Thee, Jesus! Thou are the aspiration of my soul... Only for one day, remain my gentle support; Come, reign in my heart, give me Thy smile.
Only for today!
3. What does it matter to me, Lord, if the future is bleak? To pray to They for tomorrow, oh no, I cannot... Keep my heart pure, cover me with Thy Shadow.
Only for today!
4. If I think about tomorrow, I fear my inconstancy, I feel sadness and worry taking hold in my heart.
But, my God, I do want trials and suffering.
Only for today!
5. Soon I shall see Thee on the eternal shore,
O divine Pilot, whose hand guides me!
Steer my little boat peacefully over the stormy waves. Only for today!
6. Ah, permit me, Lord, to hide in Thy Face! There I will no longer hear the vain noises of the world. Give me Thy love, leave me Thy grace. Only for today!
7. Near Thy divine Heart, oblivious to passing things, I no longer fear the enemy's arrows. Ah, give me, Jesus, a place in Thy Heart! Only for today!
8. Living Bread, Bread of Heaven, divine Eucharist, O touching mystery that Love has produced! Come dwell in my heart, Jesus, my white Host. Only for today!
9. Deign to unite me with Thyself, holy and sacred Vine. And my feeble branch will give Thy its fruit; And I will be able to offer Thee a golden cluster of grapes. Lord from this day forth!
10. To form this cluster of love, whose seeds are souls,
This day which is fast disappearing is all I have... O Jesus, give me the flames of an apostle. Only for today!
11. O Immaculate Virgin! O Thou gentle Star Who reflects Jesus and unites me to Him. O Mother! Let me hide beneath Thy veil. Only for today!
12. O my Guardian Angel, shelter me under Thy wing, Brighten my way with Thy fires, O gentle friend! Come and guide my steps; help me, I call for Thee. Only for today!
13. I want to see my Jesus, without a veil, without a cloud. Nonetheless, here on earth I am very near Him... His lovable Face will be hidden. Only for today!
14. Soon I will take flight to hymn His praises, When the day without sunset will have dawned on my soul; Then I will sing on the Angels' lyre. THE ETERNAL TODAY!
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Post by Hildegard on Mar 22, 2019 16:32:01 GMT
MY HOPE
Booklet of Poems by St. Therese of the Child Jesus taken from a cassette tape
translated from French to English:
June 12th, 1896
1. I am still on foreign shores, But anticipating eternal happiness. Oh! I would already like to leave this earth And contemplate the wonders of Heaven. When I dream of eternal life, I no longer feel the weight of my exile; Soon, O my God. Toward my only homeland I will fly away for the first time!
2. Ah Jesus, give me white wings That I may soar up to Thee! I want to fly to the eternal shores. I want to see Thee, O my divine Treasure! I want to fly into the arms of Mary To take my rest on that throne of choice And receive from my dear Mother. A sweet kiss for the first time!
3. My Beloved, make me soon perceive
The sweetness of Thy first smile, Ah, let me, in my burning delirium, Yes, let me hide in Thy Heart! O blissful moment! O ineffable happiness, When I will hear the sweet sound of Thy voice ... When I will see the divine splendor Of Thy adorable Face for the first time!
4. As you well know, my only martyrdom Is Thy love. O Sacred Heart of Jesus! If my soul sighs for Thy beautiful Heaven, It is to be able to love Thee, love Thee more and more! In Heaven, forever, elated with tenderness. I will love Thee without limit and without law, And my happiness will always seem to me As new as the first time!...
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Post by Hildegard on Mar 23, 2019 20:26:45 GMT
MY HEAVEN!
Booklet of Poems by St. Therese of the Child Jesus taken from a cassette tape
translated from French to English:
June 7th, 1896
1. To endure the exile of this valley of tears I need the gaze of my divine Saviour. This gaze full of love has revealed His charms to me,
It has given me a foretaste of the happiness of Heaven. My Jesus smiles at me when I sigh for Him; Then I no longer experience the trial of faith. The gaze of my God, His ravishing smile. That is my Heaven!
2. My Heaven is to draw down upon Holy Church. Upon guilty France and on each sinner, The grace which flows from the beautiful river of life Whose source, O Jesus, I find in Thy Heart. I can obtain all I ask when mysteriously
I converse heart to heart with my divine King. That sweet prayer so close to the sanctuary. That is my Heaven!
3. My Heaven is hidden in the little Host
Where Jesus, my Spouse, veils Himself through love To that divine hearth I go to obtain life; And there my sweet Saviour listens to me night and day. "Oh! what a happy moment when in Thy tenderness" Thy come, my Beloved, to transform me into Thyself!" That union of love, that ineffable rapture. That is my Heaven!
4. My Heaven is to feel within myself the likeness Of the God who created me with His powerful breath; My heaven is to remain always in His presence,
To call Him my Father and to be His child; In His divine arms, I do not fear the tempest . . .
Total abandonment - that is my only law; To slumber on His Heart, so close to His Face. That is my Heaven!
5. I have found my Heaven in the Blessed Trinity Who dwells in my heart, a prisoner of love. There, contemplating my God, I fearlessly repeat to Him That I want to serve Him and love Him without return. My Heaven is to smile at this God whom I adore, When He chooses to conceal Himself, to try my faith: To smile while waiting for Him to look at me once more. That his my Heaven!
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Post by Hildegard on Apr 1, 2019 16:28:00 GMT
TO THE HOLY FACE
Booklet of Poems by St. Therese of the Child Jesus taken from a cassette tape
translated from French to English:
AUGUST 12th, 1895
1. Jesus, Thy ineffable image Is the star that guides my steps; As Thou well know, Thy sweet Face Is my Heaven on earth! My love discovers the charms Of Thy eyes adorned with tears. I smile through my tears When I contemplate Thy sorrows.
Oh, to console Thy I want To live unknown and solitary on earth! Thy beauty, which Thou know how to veil, Discloses for me all its mystery, And I would like to fly away to Thee!
2. Thy Face is my only homeland, It is my kingdom of love; It is my pleasant meadow, Each day, my gentle sun; It is the lily of the valley Whose mysterious perfume Consoles my exiled soul, Makes it savor the peace of heaven.
It is my rest, my sweetness, and my melodius lyre... Thy Face, O my sweet Savior, Is the divine bouquet of myrrh That I want to keep on my heart!
3. Thy Face is my only wealth, I ask for nothing more. Hiding myself in it unceasingly, I will resemble Thee, Jesus! Leave in me the divine imprint Of Thy features filled with sweetness, And before long I will become holy, I will draw hearts to Thee.
So that I may gather A beautiful golden harvest, Deign to kindle me with Thou fire! Soon, give me the eternal kiss Of Thy adored mouth!
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Post by Hildegard on Apr 10, 2019 19:44:11 GMT
My Peace and My Joy
Booklet of Poems by St. Therese of the Child Jesus taken from a cassette tape
translated from French to English:
January 21st, 1897
1. There are some souls on earth Who search in vain for happiness; But for me, it is just the opposite, Joy dwells in my heart. This flower is not ephemeral, I possess it forever. Like a springtime rose, It smiles at me every day.
2. In truth, I am far too happy, Doing always what I will; Could I not be joyful And not show my cheerfulness? My Joy is to love suffering, I smile while shedding tears. I accept with gratitude The thorns amid my flowers.
3. When the blue sky becomes bleak And seems to forsake me, My Joy is to remain in obscurity, To hide and humble myself. My peace is the holy Will Of Jesus, my only love; So I live without any fear; I like the night as much as the day.
4. My peace is to remain little;
Thus when I fall along the way, I can get back up very quickly, And Jesus takes me by the hand. Then I cover Him with caresses And tell Him He is everything for me. . .
And In intensify my love When He escapes from the sight of my faith.
5. My peace, should I shed any tears, Is to hide them from my sisters, Oh, what charms there are in suffering When one knows how to disguise it with flowers! I truly want to suffer silently, That Jesus may be consoled. My Joy is to see Him smile When my heart is in exile.
6. My peace is to combat unceasingly To add unto heaven's elect; It is to tenderly repeat To my sweet Jesus, time and again: "For Thee, my divine little Brother, I am happy to suffer! My joy, my only one on earth Is to be able to delight Thee."
7. "I am willing to live much longer yet If that is Thy desire, Lord. In heaven I would like to follow Thee, If that would make Thee happy." "Love, that fire of the homeland, Never ceases to consume me. What can life or death matter to me? My only joy is to love Thee! . . ."
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Post by Hildegard on Apr 10, 2019 19:59:34 GMT
TO SAINT JOSEPH
Booklet of Poems by St. Therese of the Child Jesus taken from a cassette tape
translated from French to English:
Year 1894
1. Joseph, Thy admirable life Was spent in humility; But you were contemplating the beauty Of Jesus and Mary! During His childhood, many a time The Son of God gladly Obeyed you with submission, And rested on your heart !
2. We serve Mary and Jesus In solitude, as you did; Pleasing Them is our only study, We desire nothing more. Saint Teresa, our Mother, Always confided in you; She assures us that you
Promptly granted her prayer.
3. After undergoing our time of trial, We have the sweet hope That we will go to see Thee, O Father,
Beside the divine Mary! Then we will read your story Yet unknown to the world; We will discover your glory And sing of it in Heaven.
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Post by Hildegard on Apr 16, 2019 19:49:50 GMT
STREWING FLOWERS
Booklet of Poems by St. Therese of the Child Jesus taken from a cassette tape
translated from French to English:
JUNE 28th, 1896
1. Jesus, my only love, at the foot of Thy Calvary Each evening, how I love to strew flowers! In unpetalling the springtime rose for Thee, I would like to dry Thy Tears! Strewing Flowers is offering Thee as first fruits The slightest sighs, the greatest sufferings. My sorrows and my joys, my little sacrifices: Those are my flowers.
2. Lord, my has fallen in love with Thy beauty; I want to lavish my perfumes and my flowers on Thee. In strewing them for Thee on the wings of the breeze, I would like to set hearts on fire! Strewing Flowers! Jesus, that is my weapon When I want to combat to save sinners. Victory is mine . . . I always disarm Thee With my flowers!
3. The flower petals, caressing Thy Face, Tell Thee that my heart is Thine forever, Ah, my unpetalled rose is a language Thee understand, And Thy smile at my love . . . Strewing Flowers, repeating Thy praises, That is my only happiness in this valley of tears. Soon I will go to Heaven with the little Angels To strew flowers!
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Post by Hildegard on Apr 18, 2019 16:20:45 GMT
Poem of St. Therese of Lisieux
TO LIVE ON LOVE!
February 25, 1895
"If any man love Me, he will keep My word and My Father will love him
and We will come to him and make Our abode with him…
My peace I give unto you … Abide in My love."
(St. John 14, 23,27,-15:9)
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.
0 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 always.
I live of love!
To live of love, 0 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, 0 Christ!
For this I plead with Thee by night, by day;
And give myself, in sacrifice unpriced,
With love always!
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: " 0 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.
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Post by Hildegard on Apr 18, 2019 16:59:46 GMT
(Translation)
Maria Francoise Teresa (Saint Teresa) born in Alencon, France January 2nd, 1873
TO MY GUARDIAN ANGEL
Poem of St. Therese de Lisieux
FEBRUARY 1897
(7 months before her death)
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 thyzealmy heart within!
Naught but my holy poverty,
And daily cross togive 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.
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Post by Hildegard on Apr 22, 2019 18:58:45 GMT
St. Therese and Spiritual Childhood
MY WISHES BEFORE THE TABERNACLE
1896
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;
Flower of Jesus'
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 ostensoriumam 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.
Flower of Jesus'
My Well-Beloved! come, dwell in me.
Thy beauty wins my heart. Oh, come!
Deign to transform me into Thee!
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Post by Hildegard on Apr 22, 2019 19:08:52 GMT
TO THE SACRED HEART
October, 1895
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 heavenly 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.
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