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THE LAST SERMON OF FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA, by                    
First Line: O, brothers grieve not that the old gives place to new
Last Line: As at the transfiguration heavenly forms were lost from sight.
Subject(s): Missions & Missionaries; Serra, Junipero (1713-1784)


"O, brothers grieve not that the old gives place to new,
That the present's rushing purpose to the past forgets its due;

"God endures to see the lily drop its petals one by one:
Shall not we abide the death of that whose work for earth is done?

"Gone our Missions' life midst conflicts, but the truth we sought to tell
Shall resist the strife of ages, for with God its might doth dwell;

"Truth of God's great love to mortals shown in Type of holy life,
Whose humility majestic should rebuke man's pride of strife.

"Doubt not that such love shall conquer though some faith-built altars fall,
That the sacrifice was perfect, made but once and made for all.

"By the holy saints and martyrs whose great lives shall burn sublime,
Heaven-set torches ever flaming down the corridors of time;

"By His Mother's seven sorrows; by the twelve stars on her brow;
By her present adoration, in which e'en the seraphs bow;

"By His holy incarnation; by that Power which healed all pain;
By the Hand that burst the tomb when once came forth the mighty Slain;

"By the glorious Presence Real,—the Eucharist's grand mystery,
Doubt not that the love shall triumph sealed with blood on Calvary.

"He who makes man's fury praise Him, the remainder shall restrain;
On wrath's ruin, temple nobler shall uplift its fair domain,—

"Temple grand enough to gather all the faithful of all time;
Then shall Jubilate Deo blend in tongues of every clime.

"If we know not such proportions, see our measuring line too small;
Be sure God's love spans the millions as His sun shines over all.

"Then grieve not at altars broken, or at mould on cherished shrine.
God is greater than the ages! Truth is as His life—divine!"

And the Holy Cross in blessing lifted o'er their bowéd heads
Was in substance as the lustre which heaven's open portal sheds;

'Neath its soft suffuséd glory, blent their outlines with pure light,
As at the Transfiguration heavenly forms were lost from sight.





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