Catholic Poetry

ON A PORTRAIT OF ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA

By D.J. Mackin, Ph.D.

“Quid hac ad aeternitatem?”

Thou wast not born for earth,

Unblemished lamb!

Thy tender heart from birth

Taught from its blessed dam

To bleat for love of Him,

Chief Shepherd of the spotless Cherubim.

One only thought is thine–

Eternity!

So soon the flame divine

Of love transfigures thee,

And makes thy soul below

Of God’s reflected radiance glow.

No earthly crown wouldst thou

Suffer to rest

Upon thy noble brow—

Destined to bear the crest

To Christian heroes given–

The glorious aureola of heaven.

Thine eyes on heaven thrown

Behold above

Angels wreathing that crown

Of Purity and Love–

The brightest diadem

A saint can win in God’s Jerusalem.

And now that thou art here

Thou wilt, in truth,

Vouchsafe a fervent prayer

For me, thy suppliant youth

Who hope, thro’ grace divine,

One day in heaven to blend my song with thine.

The Catholic World (July 1900): 555.