(Sonnet attributed to St. Francis Xavier)
by Luis G. Dato
It does not move me, Lord, Thyself to love,
This after Heaven thou has promised me,
Nor fires of Hell that burn eternally,
To cease offending thee my spirit move.
Thou movest me, it moves me to behold
Thee bloody, hanging, nailed upon the Cross,
Thy body moves me pierced with wounds and woes,
Thy death, thy enemies’ affronts so bold.
In short, these move me in such manner, Lord,
That if no Heaven were, I’d love thee still;
Were there no Hell I still would fear thy word;
Thou needst not give, love in me to instill,
For thought what I await I would not get,
O Lord, as I loved thee, I’d love Thee yet!
