第44章 GIVE ME THY HEART

With echoing steps the worshippers Departed one by one;The organ's pealing voice was stilled,The vesper hymn was done;The shadows fell from roof and arch,Dim was the incensed air,One lamp alone with trembling ray,Told of the Presence there!

In the dark church she knelt alone;

Her tears were falling fast;

"Help,Lord,"she cried,"the shades of death Upon my soul are cast!

Have I not shunned the path of sin,And chosen the better part?"What voice came through the sacred air?-

"My child,give me thy Heart!"

"Have I not laid before Thy shrine My wealth,oh Lord?"she cried;"Have I kept aught of gems or gold,To minister to pride?

Have I not bade youth's joys retire,And vain delights depart?"-But sad and tender was the voice -

"My child,give me thy Heart!"

"Have I not,Lord,gone day by day Where Thy poor children dwell;And carried help,and gold,and food?

Oh Lord,Thou knowest it well!

From many a house,from many a soul,My hand bids care depart:"-More sad,more tender,was the voice -

"My child,give me thy Heart!"

"Have I not worn my strength away With fast and penance sore?

Have I not watched and wept?"she cried;

"Did Thy dear Saints do more?

Have I not gained Thy grace,oh Lord,And won in Heaven my part?"-It echoed louder in her soul -

"My child,give me thy Heart!"

"For I have loved thee with a love No mortal heart can show;A love so deep,my Saints in heaven Its depths can never know:

When pierced and wounded on the Cross,Man's sin and doom were mine,I loved thee with undying love,Immortal and divine!

"I love thee ere the skies were spread;

My soul bears all thy pains;

To gain thy love my sacred Heart In earthly shrines remains:

Vain are thy offerings,vain thy sighs,Without one gift divine,Give it,my child,thy Heart to me,And it shall rest in mine!"In awe she listened,and the shade Passed from her soul away;In low and trembling voice she cried -

"Lord,help me to obey!

Break Thou the chains of earth,oh Lord,That bind and hold my heart;Let it be Thine,and Thine alone,Let none with Thee have part.

"Send down,oh Lord,Thy sacred fire!

Consume and cleanse the sin That lingers still within its depths:

Let heavenly love begin.

That sacred flame Thy Saints have known,Kindle,oh Lord,in me,Thou above all the rest for ever,And all the rest in Thee."The blessing fell upon her soul;

Her angel by her side Knew that the hour of peace was come;Her soul was purified:

The shadows fell from roof and arch,Dim was the incensed air -But Peace went with her as she left The sacred Presence there!