The Divine Dew

by Therese of Lisieux

English version by Donald Kinney, OCD
Original Language French

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!...

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

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Recommended Books: Therese of Lisieux

The Poetry of Saint Therese of Lisieux The Prayers of Saint Therese of Lisieux: The Act of Oblation Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux The Letters of St. Therese of Lisieux, Vol. I: 1877-1890 Letters of St. Therese of Lisieux, Vol. II: 1890 - 1897



The Divine Dew