PN 43
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1 For those exiled on earthGod created birds.They chirp away their prayersOn hill and vale.2 Happy, flighty children,Having chosen their favorite birds,Imprison them in cagesWith bars all of gold.3 O Jesus! our little Brother,For us you leave your beautiful Heaven,But, Divine Child, you know well,Your aviary is Carmel.4 Our cage is not of gold,And yet we love it dearly.Never more will we flyIn the forests or azure plains.
5 Jesus, the groves of this worldCannot satisfy us.In deep solitude,For you alone we want to sing.6 Your little hand beckons to us.Child, how beautiful your charms!O Divine Jesus! your smileCaptivates little birds!7 Here the simple, candid soulFinds the object of its love.Like the timid dove,She no longer fears the vulture.8 On the wings of prayer,We see the fervent heart ascendLike the nimble larkThat rises up so high as it sings.9 Here we hear the chirpingOf the wren, of the merry finch.O little Jesus! In their cageYour birds warble your name.10 The little bird sings all the time.His life doesn't worry him.One grain of seed makes him happy.He never sows here below.11 Like him in our aviary,We receive everything from your hand.The one thing necessaryIs to love you, Divine Child.12 We also sing your praises,United to the pure spirits of Heaven,And we know, all the angelsLove the birds of Carmel.13 Jesus, to dry the tearsThat sinners make you shed,Your birds keep on singing your charms.Their sweet songs win hearts for you.14 One day far from this sad earth,When they will hear your call,All the birds in your aviaryWill take flight to Heaven.15 With the charming choirsOf merry little Cherubim,O Divine Child, we will singYour praises in Heaven.© Washington Province of Discalced Carmelite Friars, Inc
The Aviary of the Child Jesus
View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.archives-carmel-lisieux.fr/english/carmel/index.php/pn-43#sigProGalleriae50055f8b7datation: Christmas 1896
addressee: the community.