PN 47
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Priest of the Foreign Mission Society,Martyred at Tonkin at the age of 31.1 All the Elect celebrate your praises,O Théophane! Angelic Martyr.And I know, in the Saintly armyThe seraphim aspire to serve you!...Since, exiled on this earth, I can'tBlend my voice with those of the Elect,On this foreign shore I too wantTo take up my lyre and sing of your virtues...2 Your short exile was like a sweet canticleWhose notes knew how to touch hearts,And for Jesus your poetic soulMade flowers spring up at each moment.In ascending to the Celestial sphere,Your farewell song again was spring-like.You whispered: "As for Me, little ephemeral one,I'm going off first to God's beautiful Heaven!..."3 Blessed Martyr, at the moment of your deathYou savored the happiness of suffering.To you suffering for God seemed a delight.Smiling, you knew how to live and to dieYou hastened to say to your executionerWhen he offered to shorten your torment:'The longer my painful martyrdom lasts,The better it will be and the happier I'll be!!!"4 Virginal Lily, in the springtime of your lifeThe King of Heaven heard your desire.I see in you: The Flower in bloomThat the Lord plucked for his good pleasureAnd now you are no longer exiled.The Blessed admire your splendor.The Rose of Love, the Immaculate VirginBreathes the freshness of your perfume.5 Soldier of Christ, ah! lend me your weapons.For sinners, here below I wantTo struggle, to suffer in the shadow of your victory palms.Protect me, come steady my arm.Without stopping the war for them I wantTo storm the Kingdom of God,For the Lord cast down on the earthNot peace, but the Sword and Fire!....6 I also love that infidel shoreThat was the object of your burning love.I would happily fly to itIf God called me there some day...But in his eyes, there is no distance.For Him the whole universe is just one speck.My weak love, my little sufferings,Blessed by Him, make Him loved far and wide!...7 Ah! if I were a springtime flowerThat the Lord soon wanted to pluck,O Blessed Martyr! I implore you,Descend from Heaven at my last hour.Come embrace me in this mortal dwelling,And I'll be able to fly with the soulsThat will make up your eternal procession!...
© Washington Province of Discalced Carmelite Friars, Inc
To Théophane Vénard
View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.archives-carmel-lisieux.fr/english/carmel/index.php/pn-47#sigProGalleria59d150b4a1datation: February 2nd, 1897
addressee: Thérèse