CONSECRATION OF IRELAND TO THE SACRED HEART.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 8, 21 June 1873, Page 13

CONSECRATION OF IRELAND TO THE SACRED HEART.

[passion Sunday, 1873.1 (• Nation ') [The solemn and imprest act of the Church when Ireland was •onsecrated to the Sacred Heart, has supplied the occasion of the following beautiful poem, which is worthy of the national and Catholic tpmt of the author, our gifted countryman,. Denis Florence MaoCarthy t — ] Where'er beneath the^Saving Rood' The nation kneels to pray, A holy bond of- brotherhood' Unites us all to-day : From north to south, from east- to west, From circling sea. to sea, Terne bares her- bleeding breast; O Sacred Heart, to Thee ! She bares her breast, which many a wound; Which many a blow made sore, What time the Martyred Mother swoonedInsenjate in her gore. But, ah, she could not die, noT no ! One germ of life had she — > The love that turned, through' weal, through woe r O Sacred Heart, to Thee!She gave her sighs, she gave her tears, To Thee, O Heart divine ! She gave her blood for countless yearsLike water or like wine ;- And now that in her horoscope A Happier fate we see, She consecrates her future hope, O Sacred Heart, to Thee !" She consecrates her glorious past — Fur glorious 'tis, though sad ; Bright, though with many a cloud o'ercast> Though gloomy, yet how glad ! For through the wilds lhat round her spread; How darksome tney might be, One light alon-g'the desert led, O t>acred' Heart, to Thee V ' She consecrates her dark despair; Though brightened from above — She consecrates her Patrick's prayer 5—5 — Her Brigid'e burning love — Her Brendan sailing over seas r l hat none had dared but he — These, and a thousand such as these; O Sacred Heart, to Thee ! And even the present, though it be, Alas! unwisely sage — Its iey -cold philosophy, Ita stained historic page, Its worship of brute fbroe and strength' That leaved no impulse free — She hopes to consecrate at length, O fcacred Heart, to Thee ! But oh! forgive what I have said — Forgive, O Heart divine ! 'Tis Tliou hast suffered, Thou hast bled^ And not this land of mine ! 'Tis Thou hast bled for sins untoldThat Gfod alone doth see — The hmrits done, so manifold, O- Sacred Heart, to Thee ! But still Thy feet I dare embrace With mingled hope and fear — - For Joseph looks into Thy face, And Mary kneeleth ifear r Thou canst not that sweet look withstand, Nor that all-powerful plea, And so we consecrate our land, O Sacred Heart, to Thee ! For us, but not for us alone, We consecrate our laud. The holy Pontiff's plundered throne* Doth still our prayers demand : » That soon m:>y end the robber reign; Ami boon the Cross bo free, And Koine repentant turn again, O Sacred Heart, to Thee ! Oae valiant band, O Lord, from us A special prayer should claim — The soldiers of Ignatius, Who bear Thy holy Name. Sttfl guard them or. their glorious-track, Still victors let them bo In leading tin lost nations back : O 'Sacred Heart, to Thee ! Like tome tired bird whose homeward flight Ktseeks its distant nest, Ah, let my «oul onoe more alight TTpon my country's breast : There ipt it rest, to roam no more, Awaiting the decree That lifts my soul, its wanderings o'er, O b.vcred Heart, to Thee !

Then break, ye circling seas, in smiles; And sound, ye streams, in- song ; - Ye thousand ocean-girdled isles, The joyous strain prolong — - In one grand chorus, Lord, we pray,With Heaven and Earth and Se<tjTo consecrate our laud to-day,-O Sacred Heart, to Thee!'*