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!