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The Divine Dew

Therese of Lisieux, Therese of Lisieux poetry, Christian, Christian poetry, Catholic poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry,  poetry by Therese of Lisieux
(1873 - 1897) Timeline

English version by
Donald Kinney, OCD

Original Language
French

Christian : Catholic
19th Century

My Sweet Jesus, You appear to me
On your Mother's breast, all radiant with love.
Love is the ineffable mystery
That exiled you from your Heavenly Home...
Ah! let me hide myself under the veil
Concealing you from all mortal eyes,
And near you, O Morning Star!
I shall find a foretaste of Heaven.

From the moment a new dawn awakens,
When we see the first lights of the sun,
The young flower beginning to open
Awaits a precious balm from on high.
It is the good-giving morning dew,
Which, producing an abundant sap,
Makes the flower of the new bud open a little.

Jesus, you are that Flower just open.
I gaze on you at your first awakening.
Jesus, you are the ravishing Rose,
The new bud, gracious and scarlet red.
The ever-so-pure arms of your dear Mother
For for you a cradle, a royal throne,
Your sweet sun is Mary's breast,
And your Dew is Virginal Milk!...

My Beloved, my divine little Brother,
In your gaze I see all the future.
Soon, for me, you will leave your Mother.
Already Love impels you to suffer.
But on the cross, O Full-blossomed Flower!
I recognize your morning fragrance.
I recognize Mary's Dew.
Your divine blood is Virginal Milk!...

This Dew hides in the sanctuary.
The angels of Heaven, enraptured, contemplate it,
Offering to God their sublime prayer.
Like Saint John, they repeat: "Behold."
Yes, behold, this Word made Host.
Eternal Priest, sacerdotal Lamb,
The Son of God is the Son of Mary.
The bread of Angels is Virginal Milk.

The seraphim feeds on glory.
In Paradise his joy is full.
Weak child that I am, I only see in the ciborium
The color and figure of Milk.
But that is the Milk a child needs,
And Jesus' Love is beyond compare.
O tender Love! Unfathomable power,
My white Host is Virginal Milk!...

 

1893

 

-- from The Poetry of Saint Therese of Lisieux, by St. Therese of Lisieux / Translated by Donald Kinney, OCD

Amazon.com

 

Themes

  Awakening
  Bliss
  Bread
  Dawn
  Food


Recommended Books


The Letters of St. Therese of Lisieux, Vol. I: 1877-1890, by St. Therese of Lisieux / Translated by John Clarke
Letters of St. Therese of Lisieux, Vol. II: 1890 - 1897, by St. Therese of Lisieux / Translated by John Clarke
The Poetry of Saint Therese of Lisieux, by St. Therese of Lisieux / Translated by Donald Kinney, OCD
The Prayers of Saint Therese of Lisieux: The Act of Oblation, by Guy Gaucher / Translated by Aletheia Kane
Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, by St. Therese of Lisieux / Translated by John Clarke

 

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