PS I BszTs LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. ^\\[\. Ocuiiji'ii}!]! l)ci. liMTKU STATUS OK A^ll l!I( A. » * THOUGHTS IN VERSE Religious and Miscellanp:ous BY / John J. Branin. They are never alone that are accompanied with nol/le thoughts. — Sir Philip Sidney. Cm 3.1894*1 PHILADELPHIA, PA.: ^^i:-^\ f^ \f^ Catholic Publication Coxcerx, / 1224 Nortli Nineteenth Street. 1894. X'bW CiirYKUJHT 1S94 By J(_)ll^ J. Bkanin. » 1 PREFACE. To the charge of presumption which may follow upon the publication of Thoughts in Verse, I make no defense; nor can I implicate another in the humiliation I shall have brought upon myself. No outside influence was brought to bear upon me to publish ; no stimulus of praise incited me to hope for world-wide fame ; no philanthropist urged upon me publication as a duty to my fellow men. I simply wove my thoughts from the loom of imagination as best I could in the kw leisure moments of busy days. The pattern I worked from was God's own design, inspiringly beautiful, pure and true. If my poor, untrained weaving shall afford some glimpse of the pattern ; if it shall show the design not wholly marred, I shall have accomplished my self-imposed purpose. On the other hand, should Thoughts in Verse prove an unmerited infliction on an already suffering world, and their publication be without vindication, I am sponsor to my own folly. John J. Branin. Philadelphia, 1894. T ~ "■" —--... ^™. ™ -.- - -.. TO M\ ni'N'n'IKD I'ATllKK AXh MdlllK Col) III.I'ISS rill'M, I HKDll'A TM TllI'Sl', Nl'.k.sls Willi lll.lAl, Al Fl'X TION. » » CONTENTS. RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS.- AS FRIEND TO FRIEND, '.) GOD'S ETERNITY, 12 THANKSGIVING, i;} PROMISES OF OUR LORD TO BLESSED MARGARET MARY: FIRST, U SECOND 15 THIRD, 10 FOURTH, 17 FIFTH, 18 SIXTH, 19 SEVENTH 20 EIGHTH, 21 NINTH 22 TENTH, , 2;^ ELEVENTH 24 TWELFTH, 2o OFFERINGS TO THE SACRED HEART, 2G "LEARN OF ME!" 27 FAITH, 28 HOPE, 29 CHARITY, 80 THY KINGDOM COME 82 GOD IS EVERY^i^HERE, 38 GOD'S LOVE, 35 WHILE BETHLEHEM'S STAR SHINES BRIGHT 86 LO! LED BY THE STAR, 37 THE HOLY NAME, 38 RESURREXIT,..: " 39 THE FIRST EASTER MORN, 40 GOD'S MESSAGE, 43 THE TRUE CHURCH, 44 TO MARY IMMACULATE 46 MARY'S NATIVITY, 47 NUNC DIMITTIS, 48 BENEATH THE CROSS, 50 THE ANGELUS: MORNING, 51 NOON 52 EVENING 53 SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF MARTYRS, 54 PILGRIMS' PRAYER TO THE QUEEN OF MARTYRS, 56 THE ASSUMPTION 58 THE PENITENT, 59 TO MARY (In the Morning before her First Holy Communion), 60 THE FEAST OF ALL SOULS, 62 WHO DIETH IN THE LORD, 64 SAINT PATRICK, 65 LOOK ABOVE, .' 70 SAINT IGNATIUS 71 TO THE YOUNG MEN'S SODALITY (Church of the Gesu, Phila.) 72 As h^j'icjid lo Frlcjid. Whim; now within tlu; scul[)Uir('(l n;iv( Soil shallows of tho twili,L:ht. (all, .\ hoi)' [K.'act; i)crv'acl('th all, AikI rciiins the sLillncss of ihc s^raxH'. The siK'iio' throuf^li tho dim aisK's spr^'ad, Wv hallowcil incmoric's ol \\\i\ place, The lij^urcs looiiiiiiL;' stranorc that ^Ljracc;, I'hc (hisky arches ovcrht^ad ; TIk; iKiiuU'iU lamp, its watchful inx\ The incenst; lino-criii^' in tJK,' air, ihc (|uaint, sad look the pictures wear, 1 )ot]i each a solemn Uion^ht inspire. I' it place the knee in prayer to hend, To hrini^ m)- secret thouj^ius to li.L^ht, To leel mysell walhin I lis sii^ht. And s[)eak with 1 lim as Iriend to Iriend. 10 .1 i As one to whom, when sore oppressed, The mind reveals its inmost grief, And in the telling finds relief Come to the overburdened breast ; Or when some bliss the breast contains. Some present good dilates the heart ; The more we of our joy impart, I'he more within the breast remains. So let me as the daylight dies, Praise God who doth such comfort give ; Who on the altar deigns to live Alone, unseen by carnal eyes. And all the burdens of the day. The cankerincf cares, the wastino- strife, The mad ambitions of my life. Shall in His presence melt away ; As when the drifts of snow that beat The Northman's vast and frozen plain, Meet first the warm and gentle rain And feel the sun's absorbing: heat. .j J 11 And all the love that He hath made Spring in my heart now overjoyed, To fill the dull and aching void, Here at the altar shall be laid. Meet not my deep trust with a smile, And say, "'tis all an idle show, He dreams a pleasant dream or so, His fancy sports a litde while." For ne'er had I more wakeful hour, Nor saw with clearer light the things That faith e'er out of darkness brings, Than now assisted by His power. The Heart of God from Crib to Cross Warm pulsing with great love for me, Within the Sacred Host I see ; Within my heart die earthly dross. Burn brightly, altar lamp, and throw Thy tender beams about His throne. And let thy fliithful rays atone The cold disdain man doth bestow. 1 .12 1 » 1 lail S<)vu not ; W'idi Thee nor past nor part. None made 1 hee, none Ix-Ljot. riion art 1 lusell alone. lniinea.snral>le, h"ee ; |eho\ah, this we cnvn. • rhiiu; is et\rnily. t » Tlia 71 ksoivi7?<^. 1'liiANK I'lu-'c, L(M-(1, for all 'I1iy i^Hls, Nor incasiirc tlicni witli iii)'\vcak sense I'Or iiaiiL;lit ol lilll<' worth can he Ihat s[)eaks ol J hiix: oinni[)ot('iice. 1 lliaiik Thee, Lord, lor all Thy vavv. To mianl \\\i\ Iroin th<' evil wa)' ; I thank Thee, Lord, lor dial i^rcaL lo\'e Ihat j)roin]»le(l Thee my deht to [)a)'. I thank Thee, Lord, for diat ^reat ^ill ( )l laith that in Ihee makes m<- live, ihat bids WW hojx^ lor Ix-tter diinj^s J han this poor world can (•v(M" Liive. I tliank Thee, Lord, for that sweet ti^ift Of i)iIoriin soul, ^ Mort' i)icrcinL;' visioiKnl than the proud cable's, Scanning; abysses ikH-p from the cyric luML^ht, Or si^'htinL^, uiulisniaycd, iIk; dazzling beams Of uoou-day sun full to their burning source: The owl, nor all the creatures of the night, Cannot more piercer the imjienetrable ilark, Than can thy never sleeping;, piercins^ c^ye : ("lotl did not j;rant diese senstiless, soulless thinij;s Sufficient for their needs: the owl to see, Throui^h oruesome shades of nii^^ht, its certain course ; The (~aL;le, in illimitable scope. Scan wh(M-e would 'st rest, ami straightway take its llioht ; And leave Ilis masterpiece, the soul, undone, W'antiuL; in that alone it first most needs. A i)rey to chu-kness and the tears ot nij^ht, A night-blind owl, an (>agle without sight. Na)', to the pilgrim soul, to it alone, (.\o(\ in I lis bount)' gives one mighty eye, Widi sight all encompassing; CK>d Himself 29 Within its vision's scope; His dazzlin^r splendor, Serene, unterrored, undismayed it views ; ' The night of doubt to it is penetrable ; And Ironi out its clayey prison, the soul. With Faith's sure eye, may see the distant shore, Whither it tendeth and its yearnings soar. Pinion of the Pilgrim Soitl, Hope. As far as Faith's unerring eye can see, There joyous Hope, blessed pinion of the soul May bear its precious burden all secure ; For shall the eye of Faith be doomed to see, And from its sight dire torture but receive ? Nay! where Faith's e'er piercing vision rests, The soul, by Hope, unerringly may (ly. Swift as the eagle to its sunny height ; And as the eager carrier dove, let loose Its brooding cote full many a league remote, In giddying circles light of wing doth rise, 30 And when its bearings all complete hath made, Cleaves fast the air in one unbroken course ; So will the soul let loose from captive bands Of blinding doubt, despairing unbelief, With eye of Faith scan sure the vast expanse 'Tween where it is and where its true home lies, Far, far beyond the dim horizon line Of carnal vision ; rise lightly buoyed by Hope, And to the distant goal wing straight its way ; Though darkling chasms ever 'neath it yawn ; Though swollen, murky floods beneath it roll, And winds tempestuous all but crush its wings: Yea, pilgrim soul, to thee thy God hath given Blessed Faith to see, blessed Hope to speed to heaven. Life of the Soul, Charity. SWEET Charity, of Faith and Hope begot. Rich nourishment of man's immortal part. The soul's quick, pulsing life and wholesome breath; Without which all were impotent and dry, 31 » i The spirit heavier far than is the clay Which doth encompass it in mortal frame; And of its ponderableness must needs to sink To nether depths, without a hope to rise : But where thy flame burns pure within the soul, The life stream flows to every distant part, And soaring Hope may oil her bruised wing. When tempests lash and furies storm and howl ; And Faith not blinded be, nor see in vain The distant prospect spread before its eye. Nor jaundiced grow, nor close of inward rage : With thy sustaining strength made strong to bear, Shall Faith and Hope all adverse powers dare ; And safe the pilgrim soul bring to its goal : When yearning Faith its watchful eye shall close, And Hope its soaring wing enfold and rest ; But thou, of God's own mighty love a part, Shalt never cease the o^lorious soul to feed ; W^ith jealous care shall He thy pulsings guard ; And safe with Him, thou shalt not know of death : For aye thou 'It live — immortal be thy breath. .! t 03 Thy Kingdom Come. RULE Thou my life, O Lord of might, Thou knowest what is best for me ; And Thou, O Lord, wilt lead me right, Though dark the way may seem to be. In vain my feeble sense would scan The mighty purpose ot Thy law, And in Thy universal plan Deem what is dark to me a flaw. What though the wage of toil may be Delayed beyond the now and here ; Beyond the present faith may see In vision Thy eternal year. Then rule, my Lord ; within my heart Set up Thy Kingdom, love instil ; Bid me to do — and for my part, Not this or that, but Thy sweet will. 33 k 1 God is Everyzvhei^e. 1 STAND upon the lone sea sands And hear the surges roll ; I feel the might of God's strong hands, Like music in my soul. I stand upon the mountain height And view the plain below ; My mind perforce takes rapid flight To Him whose works I know. Though deep I delve into the earth, Midst rocks of awesome age ; I see His might and ancient worth Writ on the else mute page. The rolling thunder's deafening peal, The lightning in the sky, Do something of His might reveal, And tell that He is nigh. .i » 34 In sky and air, in field and wood, In stream and waterfall; In all that is, in every good, His hand I see in all. The proudest bird that heavenward soars, The lowliest thing that crawls ; The mightiest cataract that roars, The humblest drop that falls ; The bright revolving worlds o'erhead, The glow-worm's feeble streak, The dusty atoms round me spread, All of His presence speak. Creation shows His strong impress, And all proclaim Him, Lord; Thou ever present Holiness, Forever be adored. And if I turn mine eyes within, And all my soul lay bare ; To doubt, it were a grievous sin, For surely He is there. 35 .i. 4 And through the busy din of day, At night when all is still, I feel that He doth near me stay. And all my being fill. Yes, He is more to me than light Of burning sun to day ; Oh! may He keep me in His sight, To kindle in His ray. Gocfs Love. OH ! what a love of wondrous worth God's love for man must be : That He should humble to the earth And bear with contumely; Should humble to a human birth, That we might heaven see. 36 While Bethlehenis Star Shines Bright. {A Cliristmas Carol }\ THE Child in Bethlehem's manger lies, While Bethlehem's star shines bright And lightens all the midnight skies, A wonder to the shepherds' eyes, This holy Christmas night. Oh ! shepherds cease your troubled fear, And let your praises swell The Alleluias sounding near, Where God's fair angels now appear, And joyful tidings tell. Go, haste ye to the rocky cave, Your grateful hearts there bring To Him the Child whom Mary gave. The world from sin and death to save. The Lord your God, and King. Come, let us with the shepherds mild, And angels fair unite. In homage to the Holy Child, And greet the mother undefiled, While Bethlehem's star shines bright. \ .1. 37 Lo ! Led by the Star [Feast of the Epiphany .) L' o ! led by the star, They come from afar, The wise men from out the far East, And where its rays fall. In the bare cattle stall. Lies their King in the place of the least. And Mary is there, With a fond mother's care. Her love-watch she piously keeps ; While from her babe's lips Rich graces she sips. For His kisses of grace are the deeps. They kneel and adore, These wise men of yore. These wise men, though strangers they were; With gladness of heart, Their gifts they impart, Of frankincense, gold and of myrrh. 38 rOr tlier(? as they kneel, I lis presence they feel, The presence of God and their Kino ; And happy are they, l^heir glad gifts to lay At 1 lis feet, and His praises to sing. Oh, may Mis bright star Of faith beam afar. And pierce the deep gloom of the night To bring, as of yore. Wise men to adore The Christ-child, the fountain of lieht. T/ie Holy Name. More sweet than angel's sweetest lay, No sound so sweet besicde ; More powerful than tongue can say. It opens heaven wide ; So when in Jesus' name we pray. There's nauq;ht can be denied. .» : \ 39 Restirrexit ! HE is risen, Truly risen ; Risen with a life immortal, Open now is heaven's portal, Man's redemption now is won. Life is victor, Death is vanquished ; Death has fled the resurrection, Sin has tied the resurrectic^n Of the Father's only Son. Freedmen, Freedmen, Ransomed freedmen ! Sing aloud your gay hosannas, Sing aloud your alleluias, On this joyful Easter morn. Angels, Angels, Saints and angels ! Ye who see fiim in Piis glory Chant the ever welcome story Of the golden age that's born. 40 77/^ hirsf luis/r/' Moi'ii. Wnlli n loi I lie l'',;istcr iH-lflualinn of (lie 1 iti-iniy Section of tlie Ac.uUnii,!, Nouni; IMcn's So(l;\lily, Clnmii ol llic llcsu, I'lnl.i.l.lplii.i. I I'liLsU'i, iSo.j. I I I' is not luMc l(M- whom \c tiMiliiI scrk, ' \ (i Ic.n yi" not, l>iit list the woids 1 speak ; 1 Ic IS not here, l>iit ns«'n as I Ic said ; lirhoKl the plarc wlu'ic lay your jt'siis doail! ( It), t|\iukly this 1 lis lo\('il discipK's toll ; I c! (ir\ Noiir toars, \(>ur ho.irts with I'apluro swol I'ot 1 lo is ri.soii, as )our oyos sh.ill sc'c, Aiul ijoos holoi'o N'o into C'laliU'o." Thus s|>ok(- tlu' .iiiL^^'l in his taimont white .As i>ni'ost snow, a\\k\ i'onnten.uuH> hniL^ht As the lii^htninj^'s llash in an aiiL^ry sky. That had sdiektMi as iload oaeh arincil spy, .As ho L^u.uiiod tlu> so.iloil sopulrhfal stoiu\ .\nd his pointoil I.uuh" in the p.ilo lij^ht shoiu' ImU his \oiri' than nuisu- was l.if nun^o swoot .As his wtMils tlu> soirowinj^ wonuMi i^ri-ot. 41 « !. I>lll onr wlio S()1)1)C<1 ;i', llioMi;]) :,llc ll.ul liol luMld llu: angel's voice repeal, tlie woiulinii', word, 'I'lie failhCiil MaLMlalen, who saw l.lie jjlace All vacant vvIktc had l;iin the pallid laee ( )l Iki- I»elove<|, ,111(1 :,aw 1 lis emply shroud, No comlorl loiiiid, and vv<'epiniL;, cried aloud ; "I'roin oiil. I lis lon»l» niy Lord diey've hied away, And wl)ere lliey've laid lliin, wlio alas can say!" t Mary wre])s! Alone slie stands in hiller j;rief l)esid<- lh<' lonih. ( ) wlifn<-e shall < oine reliej ? ( )r shall her eyes no inor<' her I ,ord Ix liold !* No inoie her arms 1 lis sacrcd leei rnlold ^ The nio(irn(»il tears adovvn her wan cheeks (low. And all tlu- aiv^iiish of her warm heart sliovv. () whence sliall comlorl come; and whence th<' halm, I ier i-rief to soothe, hei' trouhled leais lo calm.'' » j. T » 42 \'i\v \n the cast the first faint Ihisli appears, The morn star wanc^s, the roseate dawning nears ; rile mists disperse, night's sable shadows fly 1 he crimson i^lory of the eastern sky. Day breaks! Jiulea's hills are <;olden dyed! W^ithin the door sepulchral rent aside, The dazzlino Hood of licjuid s^old now leaps! Init Jesus is not there, — still Mary weeps. "Woman, why weepest thou, whom seekest thou?" What stranger this whom naught she saw till ntnv ! "O sir, if tliou hast taken Mini away, O tell me where they've laid Him, tell I pray." "Mary!" "Rabonni!" ' Tis tlu: Master's voice ! Sino, sino", ye choirs, let hea\'en and earUi rejoice ! Risen indeed frtim out the silent tomb, The Master lives who didst our debt assume. 43 God's Message. CANST read the message swiftly borne Upon the shining orb of day ; When radiant dawns the summer morn And wakes the songster's roundelay ? 'Tis God's message sweetly borne On the early summer morn ; God's sweet music borne along On the early matin song. Canst read the message there unfurled Behind the sombre veils of niHit; When gently sleeps the weary world And all the sky is diamond bright ? 'Tis God's message there unfurled Far above the sleeping world ; God's sweet message shining dirough Night's expanse o{ sombre hue. 44 " The T7^2ie Cluirch!' /^Ni-: as God is one — an undivided whole! Impregnable thou art! Though 'gainst diee roll The phrensied onsets of contending powers, Still truth is safe within thy Christ-built towers ; Though 'gainst thy walls the furious storms may break, And spend their force thy mighty rock to shake ; Thou single stand'st mid dire divisions rife, And so shall stand while God is God of life. Holy art thou as holy is diy Spouse, And blessed are they who in thy pastures browse ; Eternal are the truths on Avhich they feed. Unmixed with doubt or error's poison w^eed ; No (law may mar the beauty of His Bride, For whom saints lived and holy martyrs died ; Holy art thou, as well thou show'st to be. And holy is the reign of thy right sovereignty. 45 Catholic — nor e'er confined to place or time, From either pole to burning torrid clime; Past, present, future, every age thine own, By each and all thy living faith is known ; No race may claim thee — savage, free and bond. All hear thy voice and to thy call respond ; With thee no north nor south, no east nor west, All, all alike are nurtured at thy breast. Since Christ the heavenly keys to Peter gave. And on him built His Church the world to save ; Since first to Peter was His charge to keep And guard the pastures of His lambs and sheep, Peter has lived, the sole appointed head, Whom truth e'er loves and sin and error dread ; Yes Peter lives, 'gainst error war to wage, And still shall live through age succeeding age. /.' Miiry I ))nnaculatc v^' riuinii;h a stt'iiK- l.u\il, Uulu'sl lunuuifs Nil (>\vii\i; I'ar on r\ c r\ h.uul ; I' riiidul scwls a sow in^; In .1 t(M(ilc> l>.»i\il. SjH>tU\ss llowcr MowiM;;. l'\irth"s y\\\c \\\\ st\ K\l, 1' i.\!M.u\r(" wwc bcstinviii;; In .1 ^K'stn t w iKl, Si.niU(\ss Mi^ssoni >Min\ in;^ MulM all c^lsc" .\c\\\cX hc.nitoons lainnvnv thivnvmi; 1 huN ol \.u i(\l li;;l\t ; C\ms(\1 \\\c stomas wiKl Mowini^ W lu'n thou shini\st iMij^ht. lhM\(M\"s pronuso showini; To iMiih's \o.irninc si^ht. .1- 47 I\;i(|i;iiil (l:iy ',l;ir j'lowliij; III .1 lowering sky, In line .ill .lie owillj; I .li'lil wlicii (l.irk was ni'jli \'\AV,c w<- HOW, llicc kiinwiiij';, ri.ii'.'- lliy I Ml lily. Mnry s Na/rvi/y. UN'i'o |oarliim .ukI Anne, l.o ;i ( liild r, lioi II, Never sine- llif world Ix j'an, Since creation's nioin, N<-v