Sursum Corda--Lift Up Your Heart!
Sursum Corda:
By Alexandra B. Clark
Lift up your hearts!
This is the secret of how joy imparts.
Be of good cheer
And know that the Lord is near.
In the warm rays of Divine Light
Doth the heart take deLight.
What lifts the soul above
Is His great unending Love.
Above the winter’s gloom
Beyond the worker’s doom.
Above the world void and dull
Doth the Spirit of Joy make thee more than full.
This joy is so sublime
That no pain can take it in time.
From every evil and great harm
Thou wilt be safe in His Loving Arm.
From the darkness of the night
Into the joyness of the Light.
The heart can cry: “Thy will be done”
For its joy is found in the only Son.
From His radiant Divine Face
Flows every little and great grace.
From the deepest grief
Will this Great Heart bring relief.
When the heart is beating in humble prayer
No world or devil can sets its lair.
For the heart is lifted up on high
Far above the earth and sky.
Oh such a deep and holy joy
Which no man or devil can destroy.
It never departs over the years
Even amidst a valley of tears.
A life of great holiness
Is nothing but a life of deep joyfulness.
The cloak of humble joy it wears
Its heavy burden now lighter bears.
Raise your hearts and take flight
To the Triune regions bright!
No greater Love is ever seen
Within that great celestial Beam.
The heart then must continue to pray
In order to be raised to the Divine Ray.
Oh how thy heart will glow
Purer and whiter than fresh snow.
Nothing ever to make its joy lost
Even amidst evil frost.
Nor ever can it kill
A heart within the Divine Will.
Profound patience is the key
To keep joy within thee.
Turn thy eye to His Heart
Never from there to depart.
For it is He that makes thee radiant
Filling thy heart with a Light so brilliant!
Safe from the world’s sharp shore
All evils thy heart too will ignore.
To all doubts say farewell
For in Truth do thee now dwell.
Say good bye to all thy fears
As reality now appears.
For as the heart upward flies
Every evil, fear, and sorrow dies.
And hence my mere body of clay
With heart and soul will often say:
Sursum Corda,
Sursum corda.
My heart hast been raised to the Heavenly clime*
To the Triune’s Love and Joy sublime!!!
*Clime = Region.
