Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

200

THE ARMY OF THE LORD.

V.

They are come where all are kneeling at the shrines of wealth and

pride,

And an old and martyred Bishop is their comrade and their guide: To tell the toil-worn negro of freedom and repose,

O'er the vast Atlantic's bosom they are called by sweet St. Rose.

VI.

They are gone where Love is frozen, and Faith grown calm and cold, Where the world is all triumphant, and the sheep have left the fold, Where His children scorn His blessings, and His sacred Shrines

despise,

And the beacon of the warriors is the light in Mary's eyes.

VII.

The bugle for their battle is the matin bell for prayer;
And for their noble standard Christ's holy Cross they bear;
His sacred name their war-cry, 't is in vain what ye can do,
They must conquer, for your Angels are leaguing with them too.

VIII.

Would you know, O World, these warriors? Go where the poor, the old,

Ask for pardon and for heaven, and you offer food and gold;
With healing and with comfort, with words of peace and prayer,
Bearing His greatest gift to man, - Christ's chosen priests are there.

IX.

Where sin and crime are dwelling, hid from the light of day,
And life and hope are fading at Death's cold touch away,
Where dying eyes in horror see the long-forgotten past,
Christ's servants claim the sinner, and gain his soul at last.

X.

Where the rich and proud and mighty God's message would defy, In warning and reproof His anointed ones stand by:

Bright are the crowns of glory God keepeth for His own,

Their life one sigh for heaven, and their aim His will alone.

THE ARMY OF THE LORD.

XI.

201

And see sweet Mercy's sister, where the poor and wretched dwell, In gentle accents telling of Him she loves so well;

Training young hearts to serve their Lord, and place their hope in Heaven,

Bidding her erring sisters love much and be forgiven.

XII.

And where in cloistered silence dim the Brides of Jesus dwell,

Where purest incense rises up from every lowly cell,

They plead not vainly, they have chosen and gained the better part, And given their gentle life away to Him who has their heart.

XIII.

And some there are among us - the path which they have trod

Of sin and pain and anguish has led at last to God:

They plead, and Christ will hear them, that the poor slaves who pine In the bleak dungeon they have left, may see His truth divine.

XIV.

O, who can tell how many hearts are altars to His praise,

From which the silent prayer ascends through patient nights and days:

The sacrifice is offered still in secret and alone,

O World, ye do not know them, but He can help His own.

XV.

They are with us, His true soldiers, they come in power and might; Glorious the crown which they shall gain after the heavenly fight; And you, perchance, who scoff, may yet their rest and glory share, As the rich spoil of their battle and the captives of their prayer.

XVI.

O, who shall tell the wonder of that great day of rest,
When even in this place of strife His soldiers are so blest:

O World, O Earth, why strive ye? join the low chant they sing, "O Grave, where is thy victory! O Death, where is thy sting!

[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

The shore now looms in sight,
The far-off golden strand,
Yet many a freight is wrecked
And lost in sight of land;
Then guide us safely home,
Through that last hour of
strife,

And welcome us to land,
From the long voyage of

life: :

In death and life we call on thee, Star of the Sea!

THE SACRED HEART.

WHAT wouldst thou have, O soul,

Thou weary soul?
Lo! I have sought for rest
On the Earth's heaving breast,
From pole to pole.

Sleep I have been with her,
But she gave dreams;
Deathnay, the rest he gives
Rest only seems.

Fair nature knows it not

The grass is growing; The blue air knows it not The winds are blowing: Not in the changing sky,

The stormy sea,

Yet somewhere in God's wide world

Rest there must be.

Within thy Saviour's Heart

Place all thy care,

THE SACRED HEART.

And learn, O weary soul,

Thy Rest is there.

I asked the wise and good,

But they gave none.

203

Though I have asked the stars, Coldly they shine.

What wouldst thou, trembling They are too bright to know

soul?

Strength for the strife,
Strength for this fiery war

That we call Life.
Fears gather thickly round;
Shadowy foes,

Like unto arméd men,

Around me close.
What am I, frail and poor,

When griefs arise?

No help from the weak earth,

Or the cold skies.

Lo! I can find no guards,
No weapons borrow;
Shrinking, alone I stand,

With mighty sorrow. Courage, thou trembling soul,

Grief thou must bear, Yet thou canst find a strength Will match despair; Within thy Saviour's Heart

Seek for it there.

What wouldst thou have, sad soul,

Oppressed with grief?
Comfort: I seek in vain,
Nor find relief.

Nature, all pitiless,
Smiles on my pain;
I ask my fellow-men,
They give disdain.

I asked the babbling streams,
But they flowed on;

Grief such as mine. I asked for comfort still, And I found tears, And I have sought in vain Long, weary years. Listen, thou mournful soul, Thy pain shall cease; Deep in His sacred Heart Dwells joy and peace.

Yes, in that Heart divine

The Angels bright
Find, through eternal years,

Still new delight.

From thence his constancy

The martyr drew,

And there the virgin band
Their refuge knew.

There, racked by pain without,

And dread within,

How many souls have found

Heaven's bliss begin.

Then leave thy vain attempts

To seek for peace;
The world can never give

One soul release:
But in thy Saviour's Heart
Securely dwell,

No pain can harm thee, hid
In that sweet cell.
Then fly, O coward soul,

Delay no more:

What words can speak the joy

For thee in store?

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« ZurückWeiter »