Chapter 4 : Love – a third feature of the gratitude we owe the Mother of God
Continuing our translation of the 1845 reprint of Fr François Poiré’s Triple Crown of the Mother of God (1643 French edition).
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| Notre Dame des Grâces, Cotignac (Poggi, 2020) |
§ 5. The fifth sign of love: Having a tender and fervent love for her dear Son
6 On another occasion, St Bernard found himself transported with love and intoxicated by cascades of sweetness pouring from the sacred heart of Jesus, his loving Saviour. It was whilst in this state that he composed the following mellifluous canticle :
[Translator's note: In the following verse translation I have incorporated the iambic tetrameter and rhyming scheme of the French original, whilst staying close to its vocabulary and imagery.]
O Lord how sweet Thy darts of love
Which pierce the soul from Heaven above,
Sure marks of Thy divine dilection!
Thy presence brings supreme delight
To hearts by day and through the night,
Enfolding us in Thy protection.
The loftiest airs of Cherubim
Can match nor chant nor solemn hymn
When sung with my Redeemer’s Name;
The thought enraptureth the mind
Whose noble aim (itself assigned)
Will th’uncreated Word proclaim.
Surviving storms of wind and rain
Or shipwreck on sublunar main,
Man’s hope is anchored now in Thee!
Thy goodness shareth naught that’s sour
For seekers find Thy sweetest power,
Delighteth creatures gen’rously.
Thou nectar art, or malmsey fine,
Surpassing far ambrosia wine
Of pagans in antiquity;
Thou art the source of ardour pure
Inflaming hearts with love secure
While burning out iniquity!
Which mind will help me to discern
The book where I might come to learn
The holy art of loving Thee?
Thy little ones might call the price
Of martyr’s love a sacrifice,
But words must here deficient be.
To earth Thou leapt from Heaven’s height,
In mortal flesh Thou didst alight
To build Thyself a sweet abode.
Then Truth replaced what were but dreams
And Virtue ousted lying schemes
While Love triumphantly o’erflowed.
Thy love hath such a mystic splendour
’Tis like a dish full sweet and tender
Alluring with its subtle taste;
A dish that perfectly doth nourish,
It helpeth each of us to flourish,
And never causeth us distaste.
The one who drinketh from this source
Is lit with flames which run their course
And work an inner transformation;
The more we drink this muscatel
The more it doth our thirst compel,
Fomenting love and delectation.
Whoever once hath tasted Thee
With nothing else can happy be;
To him a Palace seemeth hell,
The world of men – a lonely place,
Deprived of peace and eke of grace,
Its charms for him are poisons fell.
Oh Jesus, source of Angels’ wonder,
Thy name resounds with mystic thunder
Enrapturing the hearts of mortals;
Thy grace like Heav’nly honeycombs
Doth sanctify our spirits’ homes
And draw us to thy Churches’ portals.
Thy touch doth penetrate my heart
Whence deepest sighs do take their start
To thank Thee for these gifts sublime.
Oh that my heart and mouth may savour
Their sweet and supernatural flavour,
In copious draughts ’til end of time.
Thy fires burning in my breast
Inflame me and allow no rest,
Consuming all my thoughts and feelings;
May these exchanges fill my days
For I am Thine now and always,
Delighting in our mutual dealings.
Oh Jesus, love of holy souls,
Oh Jesus, highest of my goals,
Exalted dream beyond all measure!
For Thee I’ll breathe, for Thee I’ll sigh,
In Thee, for Thee, until I die:
Thou fount and source of holy pleasure!
© Peter Bloor 2025
👑 👑 👑
SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.
The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.
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