Firstpublished:2001 Description: This is my own composition dedicated to the centennial celebration of the Scalabrinian Congregation. The lyrics are both in Italian and English; they are based on Blessed Scalabrini's speech sending off his first two missionaries to work among the migrants.
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Original text and translations
English text
Have no fear be sturdy of heart
For with you is the Cross
As a sign for the risen Lord
A mighty sign, defender of humble ones
Those who are proud the Cross will scatter
It is the victory of Christ the Lord
And the death of Satan’s power
And the ruin of those who deceive.
The Cross offers life to the just
And fulfillment of all virtues
The Cross is the hope of Christians
The resurrection of the dead.
To the poor it is consolation
Life eternal the strength of almighty God.
Have no fear be sturdy of heart
By the Cross has the Church
gained the heroes of our religion
always sustaining and blessing them
with strength guidance and claiming them
it raised them o’er the worldly flesh
with the blood the Savior shed upon it
It calls us the holy desire
To emulate the martyrdom of Jesus Christ.
When you are afflicted, when you are discouraged,
When you’re disillusioned
Hold to your hearts this Cross
I have given into your care
And with your mind and soul
Given up in sweet abandon
Into God’s own hands
and your eyes raised to the highest heaven:
Repeat with me:
“May the cross my life overshadow nothing
O Jesus, outside his glory”.
For there will your heart open wider
To humankind and your soul will behold
The gentleness which is in all Christian
Hope and your works in this life
Will be precious in the eyes
Of the almighty God;
Italian text
Non temete vi accompagna la croce
La croce è difesa degli umili
La depressione de superbi
La vittoria di Cristo
La sconfitta dell’inferno
La morte dell’infedeltà.
La vita dei giusti,
La pienezza di tutte le virtù.
La croce è la speranza dei cristiani
La risurrezzione de’ morti
Consolazione del pòvero
Il legno della vita eterna
La forza di Dio.
Non temete vi accompagna la croce
E la croce che forma gli eroi della religione
Che li sostiene, li anima, li guida, li rapisce
Li rende superiori alla carne, al sangue,
alle sue gioie.
Infonde nell’animo i santi desideri
Del martire di Cristo.
Nelle afflizioni, negli scoraggiamenti,
Nelle disillusioni
Stringetevi al cuore la croce
Che v’ho consegnata
E collaccento di un intero abbandono
Nelle mani di Dio levando gli occhi al cielo.
Ripetete: “Fac me cruce inebriari,
absit gloriari nisi in cruce”.
Il cuor vostro si dilaterà
E l’anima vostra si aprirà
A tutte le dolcezze della speranza cristiana
E le vostre opere saranno tutte
Rese preziose per il cielo.