Poems of the Little Flower of Jesus; CANTICLE TO THE HOLY FACE

Dear William,

It is an extremely interest to compare the translations of one poem in the Poems of the Little Flower of Jesus.

There is also the multi-task in melodies, chords, keys in the features of the FACE in our vision.

There are countless pictures of Jesus in devotion pictures.

I love to 'read' the Holy Face in the trees in our windows.

Looking the trees in the wind and see the faces. ...

There is more to remember from St Theres's being named 'of the Holy Face'.

Beyond all the FACES, the divine presence, is faith in God who IS! 

 For the moment pondering.
God love.
fr. Donald

Poems of the Little Flower of Jesus

CANTICLE TO THE HOLY FACE

COMMENTARY:    

'Begemmed' re the tears of the Holy Face in the Poem of Therese paused for thought, a rather unfamiliar word.  

The Canticle to the Holy Face is another curtain raiser to the whole 'story of the soul', of Saint Therese of the Infant of Jesus and of the Holy Face.

Writing, poetry, art, dance, song, is the multi-task of her life in fullness.

One tip of iceberg from the translation, "Holy Face) Of those dear Eyes begemmed with tears", "De tes yeux embellis de pleurs", immerses to the Face visions.

Icons, paintings and Biblical references to the  Divine Face echoes in Therese of the Holy Face.

The chart of the 4 versions of the poem give lessons well.

Surprising is to find the Internet translation from the original being very literal and seems to prove the best poem.
Reading and re-reading the French and Internet translation gives me unending grasp of mind and heart.

 1.     Cantique à la Sainte Face.
http://www.abbaye-saint-benoit.ch/saints/carmel/thereseenfj/poesies1/025.htm
2. Collected Poems of Therese of Lisieux. Translated by  Alan Bancroft.
3. Poems of St Therese of the Child Jesus. Translated by the Carmelites of Santa Clara, Cal., USA. Oct 1925

Cantique à la Sainte Face. Original: French Jésus ton ineffable image Est l'astre qui conduit mes pas ; Tu le sais bien, ton doux Visage Est pour moi le ciel ici-bas ! Mon amour découvre les charmes De tes yeux embellis de pleurs. Je souris à travers mes larmes, Quand je contemple tes douleurs. Oh ! je veux pour te consoler Vivre ignorée et solitaire; Ta beauté que tu sais voiler Me découvre tout son mystère, Et vers toi je voudrais voler! Ta Face est ma seule patrie, Elle est mon royaume d'amour; Elle est ma riante prairie, Mon doux soleil de chaque jour; Elle est le lis de la vallée Dont le parfum mystérieux Console mon âme exilée, Lui fait goûter la paix des cieux. Elle est mon repos, ma douceur, Et ma mélodieuse lyre... Ton Visage, ô mon doux Sauveur, Est le divin bouquet de myrrhe Que je veux garder sur mon coeur ! Ta Face est ma seule richesse; Je ne demande rien de plus. En elle, me cachant sans cesse, Je te ressemblerai, Jésus ! Laisse en moi la divine empreinte De tes traits remplis de douceurs, Et bientôt je deviendrai sainte, Vers toi j'attirerai les coeurs ! Afin que je puisse amasser Une belle moisson dorée, De tes feux daigne m'embraser! Bientôt, de ta bouche adorée, Donne-moi l’éternel baiser! 12 août 1895. 1 Certains airs profanes, comme celui-ci, avaient été indiqués à la Bienheureuse par sa cousine, Sr Marie de l'Eucharistie, et elle s'était inspirée du rythme pour composer ses vers. Depuis, bien des auteurs se sont essayés à mettre en musique quelques-unes de ces poésies. Un recueil en a été édité.	Hymn to the Holy Face. Translation: Internet Jesus your ineffable picture Is the star that guided my steps; You know it, your sweet face Is my heaven on earth! My love discovers the charms Your eyes embellished with tears. I smiled through my tears, When I look at your pain. Oh! I want to comfort you Living ignored and lonely; You know your beauty veil I discovered all its mystery, And I want you to fly! Your Face is my only home, She is my kingdom of love; It is my cheerful meadow, My sweet sun each day; She is the lily of the valley Whose mysterious perfume Console my exiled soul, A taste of heaven him peace. It is my rest, my sweetness, And my melodious lyre ... Your face, my sweet Savior, Is the divine bouquet of myrrh I want to keep on my heart! Your Face is my only wealth; I ask nothing more. In it, hiding me constantly, I'll look like you, Jesus! Let me in the divine imprint Of your lines filled with sweets, And soon I will become holy, To you I will draw the hearts! So I can raise A golden harvest Of your fires ablaze deigns me Soon, your mouth adored Give me the eternal kiss! August 12, 1895. 1 Some secular tunes, as it had been given to the Blessed by his cousin, Sister Mary of the Eucharist, and she was inspired to compose his pace. Since then, many authors have tried to put some music of these poems. A collection has been published.
CANTICLE TO THE HOLY FACE Translated by the Carmelites of Santa Clara, Cal., USA. Oct 1925 JESUS, Thine image, fair to trace, Shall be my star, where'er I go, Thou knowest, in Thy Sacred Face, I find my Heaven, while here below. My love hath found the charm untold Of those dear Eyes begemmed with tears, I smile, though weeping, to behold The grief that in their depth appears. Fain would I, to be Thy solace, Live forgotten and unknown, For the beauty Thou art veiling Hath to me its secret shown, Drawing me to Thee alone. Thy holy Face shall be my home, The Kingdom of my heart's best love, The smiling meadow where I roam, My Sun each day in skies above. My hidden lily of the vale, Whose mystic perfume, faint and rare, Shall to my banished soul exhale The peace of Heaven I long to share. 'Tis my rest, my harp melodious, Where the strains of Heaven recur; Thy dear Face, my gentle Saviour, Is a knot of sacred myrrh; From my breast 'twill never stir. My only treasure is Thy Face, No other do I ask to see, There shall I find my hiding place, Till, Jesus, I resemble Thee. O seal me with divine impress Of Thy sweet Image, as I plead; Full soon, imbued with holiness, To Thee all hearts my heart shall lead. With Thy fires of love inflame me, That from ripened fields be stored Harvests rich in golden plenty; Soon then, from Thy mouth adored, Thine eternal kiss accord. August 12. 1895.	29. MY HEAVEN HERE BELOW  Translated by Alan Bancroft 1996 1.      Your picture, Jesus, like a star  Is guiding me! And, ah, You know  Your Features - grace itself they are  To me, are Heaven here below.  Your weeping ... that to Love appears  As ornament - attractiveness!  I'm smiling while I'm shedding tears  At seeing You in your distress.  2.      To comfort You, I want to be  Unknown upon the earth. Below  Your Beauty's veiled, and yet to me  Reveals its Mystery! and, oh,  Would I, to You, were flying free!  3.      Your Face ... my only Homeland, and  The Kingdom, too, where Love has sway:  And it's my smiling meadowland,  The gentle Sun of every day:  The Lily of the Valley - ah,  Its perfume's Mystery! I'm giv'n  What consolation from afar -  A foretaste of the Peace of Heav'n.  4.      Your Face - repose and tenderness  Is truly my melodious lyre ...  Bouquet of Myrrh, I would caress  (Such gentleness do You inspire!),  That safely to my heart I'd press ....  5.      Your Face ... ah, only that will be  The wealth I ask as revenue: I'll hide in it, unceasingly;  Then, Jesus, I'll resemble You.  Imprint in me those traits divine  Your Gentleness of Face imparts;  Holiness, then, will soon be mine  To You I'll be attracting hearts.  6.      So I can gather souls - it's this,  A golden harvest, I desire -  Set me aflame! And, soon, in bliss,  Grant that sweet burning of Your Fire,  Your lips in an eternal Kiss!

Saint Waldef Abbot of Melrose. (Waltheof or Waldeve) (c. 1095–1159)

Melrose Abbey  

Saint of the day: 3rd August Saint Waldef  Abbot of Melrose Roe Deer, antlers, from Refectory window   Of noble birth, St Waldef was born in 1100 and grew up in the Scottish court. He could have become a court cleric, but chose the monastic life, becoming an Austin canon at Nostell in Yorkshire.  In 1134, he became prior of Kirkham. In 1140 he was a favourite to become Archbishop of York but King Stephen prevented this because he felt he would be too sympathetic to Scotland. St Waldef wanted to bring the Cistercians at Rievaulx and the Austins at Kirkham together, but the canons objected strongly. In 1149 he became abbot of Melrose, taking over from someone who had a notorious temper. St Waldef developed a reputation for great kindness, gentleness and humility.  He went on to found monasteries at Cultram and Kinross. In 1159 he was asked to be bishop of St Andrews but he refused as he knew death was near. St Waldef was never formally canonised but a popular cult grew around him until the Reformation. During his life, many wonders were said to have taken place including visions at Christmas and Easter and miracles of multiplying food.

Monthly Memorial 2nd August 2013

Friday, 2 August 20113 It is seven month's memorial of Fr. Stephen. R.I.P.

Gospel Mat 11:27 Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Fr. Stephen 6 Feb 2013 + 

Mass Intro: Today we celebrate the Monthly Mass for our dead;

Our brothers and sisters in the Order among our relatives and friends and benefactors have all gone before us. We pray for them and that we may in our turn and that we may in our turn join them in the joy of heaven.

Lord have mercy ...

---

Prayer of the Faitgful ...

Concel: God our Father, we thank you for the gift of life.

May all who have died find its fulfiment in heave.

We ask this through O Lord ..

----- Forwarded Message -----

Morning East Sky ablaze 2 Aug 2013

 
From: Donald ....
Sent: Friday, 2 August 2013, 13:20
Subject: Navarre commentary Mt 11: 25-30

     2^nd August 2013 Monthly Memorial

     Matthew 11:25-30 (NJB)

Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children.

Mat 11:26 Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do.

Mat 11:27 Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Mat 11:28 'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.

Mat 11:29 Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mat 11:30 Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.'

Mat 11:25-30 -  

Navarre Commentary

 Matthew 11:25-30   

     Jesus Thanks His Father      

   25-26.  The wise and understanding of this world, that is, those who rely on their own judgment, cannot accept the revelation which Christ has brought us. Supernatural outlook is always connected with humility. A humble person, who gives himself little importance, sees; a person who is full of self-esteem fails to perceive supernatural things.   

   27.  Here Jesus formally reveals His divinity. Our knowledge of a person shows our intimacy with Him, according to the principle given by St. Paul: "For what person knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him?" ( 1Co_2:11  ). The Son knows the Father by the same knowledge as that by which the Father knows the Son. This identity of knowledge implies oneness of nature; that is to say, Jesus is God just as the Father is God.

 28-30.  Our Lord calls everyone to come to Him. We all find things difficult in one way or another. The history of souls bears out the truth of these words of Jesus. Only the Gospel can fully satisfy the thirst for truth and justice which sincere people feel. Only our Lord, our Master--and those to whom He passes on His power--can soothe the sinner by telling him, "Your sins are forgiven" ( Mat_9:2  ). In this connection Pope Paul VI teaches: "Jesus says now and always, `Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' His attitude towards us is one of invitation, knowledge and compassion; indeed, it is one of offering, promise, friendship, goodness, remedy of our ailments; He is our comforter; indeed, our nourishment, our bread, giving us energy and life" ("Homily on Corpus Christi", 13 June 1974). "Come to Me": the Master is addressing the crowds who are following Him, "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" ( Mat_9:36  ). The Pharisees weighed them down with an endless series of petty regulations (cf. Act_15:10  ), yet they brought no peace to their souls. Jesus tells these people, and us, about the kind of burden He imposes: "Any other burden oppresses and crushes you, but Christ's actually takes weight off you. Any other burden weighs down, but Christ's gives you wings. If you take a bird's wings away, you might seem to be taking weight off it, but the more weight you take off, the more you tie it down to the earth. There it is on the ground, and you wanted to relieve it of a weight; give it back the weight of its wings and you will see how it flies" (St. Augustine, "Sermon" 126). "All you who go about tormented, afflicted and burdened with the burden of your cares and desires, go forth from them, come to Me and I will refresh you and you shall find for your souls the rest which your desires take from you" (St. John of the Cross, "Ascent of Mount Carmel", Book 1, Chapter 7, 4).

Santiago El Grande (1957) Dali's Jasmine flower

COMMENT: We appreciate the outstanding Art  Essay from the month of Magnificat.net.

Santiago El Grande (1957)

Salvador Dali (1904-1989),

The Beaverbrook Art Gallery,

Gift of the Sir James Dunn Foundation,

 Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.

IN 1941 the artist Salvador Dali made an announcement that was as confounding to the art world as Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus had been to ancient Judaism. Dali called it his "last scandal", and it was a formal declaration that henceforth he would engage in "classical painting". The world-famous Surrealist had long been noted for his provocative evocations of an irrational dream world, and, like Saul, Dali had been an approving cloak bearer for a movement that had taken great delight in ridiculing the Church. But now as he struggled with the prospect of returning to the faith of his Spanish childhood and grounding his work in the traditional iconography of Catholicism, this enfant terrible of the counter-culture was willing to be seen as an outcast and a traitor to the movement he had helped form.

While the style of his art remained basically the same, its content changed radically. In the next twenty years many of his noted masterpieces were works that reverently extolled Christ and the Virgin Mary, saints, sacraments and the Second Vatican Council. His detractors dismissed this turn of events as just another opportunity for the self-promoting artist to gain fame and fortune. But in an address to students at the Sorbonne in Paris, Dai declared that since modern artists had come to believe in nothing, then their art basically amounted to nothing. In essence, art had lost its soul!

Santiago El Grande of 1957 is one of Deli's post-war religious masterpieces. It represents the Apostle James the Greater astride a white charger triumphantly holding aloft a crucifix that is an artistic reference to another masterpiece he created six years earlier, Christ of Saint John of the Cross. In order to interpret the painting, one must know the legendary details of this patron saint of Spain and understand the exalted place he holds in Spanish myth and history.

While James the Greater was the brother of John the Apostle and is mentioned fre­quently in the Gospels, the story of his life after Christ's Ascension is rooted in legend and lore. According to the Spaniards, Saint James (Santiago in Spanish) was having great difficulty preaching the Gospel in the Iberian Peninsula. On 2nd January in the year 40 AD he knelt and prayed for guidance on the shore of the Ebro River. Our Lady ap­peared to him seated atop a pillar. To aid his mission she ordered that a church be built on the site. To this day many venerate it as the oldest church dedicated to Mary in all of Christendom. Returning to Jerusalem, James suffered martyrdom and was beheaded by order of King Herod Agrippa in 44 AD. His remains were taken back to Spain and buried, but were lost when Muslim forces invaded the Iberian Peninsula and kept its Christian population in subjugation for centuries. As the Spaniards periodically rose up to battle their conquerors, there were visions of the saint on a white horse ready to lead them to victory. In this guise he became known as "Santiago Matamoro", or Saint James the Moor-Slayer, brandishing a sword and carrying a white banner on which was emblazoned a red cross. By the ninth century Santiago's remains were recovered and venerated at Compostela in northern Spain. The fervour surrounding his cult gave rise to a network of important pilgrimage routes across Western Europe that elevated Compostela to the level of Jerusalem and Rome as a destination for the faithful.

Dali's painting portrays a mystical vision. Santiago is perched atop a rampant white steed with a network of rib vaults fanning outward from a single column lodged at the horse's hind legs. The column recalls the pillar on which the Virgin appeared to Saint James and encouraged his mission. The rib vaulting represents the pilgrimage routes splayed across Europe, with Compostela as their terminus point. This architectural canopy is derived from the Church of the Jacobins in Toulouse, one of the many stopping points on the road to Compostela. Designed by the Dominicans in 1230, it bears the nickname given to them in France, the 'Jacobins" due to the fact that their major house in Paris was located on the rue Saint Jacques, a starting point for French pilgrims making their way to the shrine in Spain.

Instead of a banner or sword, Dali's Apostle holds aloft the corpus of Christ whose radiant pose approximates the shape of the sword-like cross of Saint James, the emblem of Spain's highest military order. In fact "Santiago" became a battle cry for Spaniards who retook their homeland from the invaders. A halo of eleven cockle shells surrounds the saint at the intersections of the ribbing, with a twelfth shell strapped to the horse's chest, This shell became an attribute for Saint James as it is a useful tool for pilgrims.

The frenetic design of the ribbing coupled with the nuclear cloud from which the horse springs reveals Dali's own conviction that the discovery of the atomic nature of the universe could prove the very existence of God. Dali saw himself as the first painter to combine science with religious belief. He preached a theory of "nuclear mysticism", issuing his own Mystic Manifesto in 1951. Even the tendons in the horse's neck create the shape of an angel that Dali repeats in the azure sky. yet despite the exalted ideas that underscore his painting and the nationalistic fervour it enshrines, the artist personalised the canvas by rendering a miniscule self-portrait at the bottom of the lo­calised landscape and shrouded his wife Gala in prayerful repose. The dirty bare foot of the Apostle James becomes the symbol of Everyman, representing all the millions of perambulating pilgrims who have walked the dusty road to Compostela over the past one thousand years. It was modelled on Dali's own foot. Without shame, the artist liked to point out, "I have very saintly feet!"

Father Michael Morris, O.P.

Professor, Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, Berkeley, CA.

To view this masterpiece in greater detail visit:

www.magnificat.com

Note: the atomic cloud mass is a sweetly painted jasmine flower – a symbol of purity and harmony

COMMENT: Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe

Portiuncula Hospital - areal

Talking about Portiuncula,

Br. Seamus surprised me to learn that he and his brothers and sisters were born in Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.

Seamus added that Ballinasloe is the largest TOWN in Ireland.

History[edit]

The Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood opened a nursing home at "Mount Pleasant" in 1943, and John Dignan, the bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Clonfert, invited them to found a hospital, which opened on 9 April 1945.^[2] The nuns named their hospital after Portiuncula in Italy, the place where Franciscanism began.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portiuncula_Hospital 

Portiuncula. Indulgence - Pope Prayer,

Portiuncula-Chapel

August 2nd is the feast of Portiuncula. A plenary indulgence is available to anyone who will

1. Receive sacramental confession (8 days before of after)

2. Receive the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass on August 2nd

3. Enter a parish church and, with a contrite heart, pray the Our Father, Apostles Creed, and a pray of his/her own choosing for the intentions of the Pope.

Please tell every Catholic person you know that remission of the punishment for all sins committed from the day of baptism to the reception of the indulgence is available.

May the Merciful Jesus fill your heart with His gentle peace!

Note: An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sin. More information can be found at Indulgences.