Introduction
As an alumnus of a Sacred Heart school, I have fond memories of the anonymous French hymn, "Coeur de Jésus, sauvez le monde," one of the anthems of Sacred Heart schools. When the song popped into my head recently--particularly the bit in the chorus where "vous soit soumis" is repeated--I decided to look up the text and provide my own translation.
The melody in the version below is based on the four-part transcription by Laura Becker (found at https://aash.org/files/resource/attachment/coeur_de_jesus.pdf). However, my memory--which, being decades old at this point, might be faulty--included a dotted eighth note rhythm in the antepenultimate bar of the verse, where Becker's transcription has strict eighth notes (as in the final two bars of the verse). Thus I've adjusted my rendition to match my memory.
For purposes of sonic pleasure, I translated that "vous soit soumis" repetition as "is bowed to Thee" rather than "is bowed to You." I just couldn't get myself to remove that "-ee" sound from the chorus. That meant, though, that, for consistency's sake, the rest of the hymn had to be translated with Thee-Thy-Thou pronouns rather than You-Yours-You. I have also given myself a little leeway in translation and in matching the text to music: specifically, there are many bars in the verses where a pair of notes might cover either two syllables or one, depending on the verse. I think I will claim the looseness of folk music as my sanction for this. A few times, as well, I added an additional word or two because a strict word-for-word translation left far too few syllables for a line.
O Heart of Jesus, Save the ... by Brandon P. Otto
Scribd link: https://www.scribd.com/document/703583688/O-Heart-of-Jesus-Save-the-World
Internet Archive mirror: https://archive.org/details/o-heart-of-jesus-save-the-world
Translation
O Heart of Jesus, save the world,
may th'universe be bowed to Thee, be bowed to Thee.
In Thee alone our hope is founded!
O Lord, O Lord, this promise we've from Thee.
1. This Thou hast said: Thy faithful promise
Shall be our hope, our joyful part:
"Thus I shall bless in my tenderness
All the children of My Sacred Heart!"
2. This Thou hast said: O faithful Savior,
Thus has Thy Love to us revealed:
"My burning Heart shall console
The heart hat burns for Me with zeal!"
3. This Thou hast said: our mortal weakness
Shall find in Thee its Protector
And in Thy Love be ever ceaseless,
O Jesus our only Redeemer!
4. This Thou hast said: the living blazings
Of grace and love conquering the dark
Shall give their aid in soul saving
To the apostles of Thy Sacred Heart!
5. This Thou hast said: source of all graces,
Thy Love shall open widely,
Heaping with Your gifts efficacious
The fervent Heart which honors Thee!
6. This Thou hast said: when Your image
Brims o'er with honor, glory, lauds,
This, this alone shall be our gauge
Of the blessings of Thy Sacred Heart!
7. This Thou hast said: the heart that loves Me
May lay to rest upon Mine
All-peacefully until the ending
Of a day that lacks a midnight!
Final refrain:
What does it matter if a storm rage?
For our hearts are firm in Thee, are firm in Thee.
Jesus the world's King to the ages,
Reign, reign despite all of our enemies!
French Original
Coeur de Jésus sauvez le monde,
Que l’univers vous soit soumis
En Vous seul notre espoir se fonde
Seigneur, Seigneur, Vous nous l’avez promis.
1. Vous l’avez dit: Votre promesse
Fait notr’espoir, notre bonheur:
« Je bénirai dans ma tendresse
Les enfants de mon Sacré Coeur.
2. Vous l’avez dit: Sauveur fidèle,
Votr’ amour nous l’a révélé:
« Le coeur brulant pour Moi de zèle
Par le Mien sera consolé ! »
3. Vous l’avez dit: notre faiblesse
En Vous trouve son Protecteur,
Dans votr’amour soyez sans cesse
Jésus notre Réparateur!
4. Vous l'avez dit: les vies flammes
De grace et de l'maour vain-queur
Aideront au salut des âmes,
Les apôtres de votre Coeur.
5. Vous l'avez dit: Source de grâces,
Votr'Amour se delatera,
Comblant de ses dons efficaces
Le Coeur qui vous honorera.
6. Vous l'avez dit: quand votr'image
Meuvra la gloire et l'honneur
Parmi nous ce sera le gage
Des bien-faits de votre grand Coeur.
7. Vous l'avez dit: le coeur qui M'aime
Sur le Mien pourra s'endormir
Dans la paiz, à l'instant suprème
D'un jour qui ne doit plus finir.
Final refrain:
Qu'importe si l'orage grande
Ça Vous nos coeurs sont affermis
Jésus, Vous êtes Roi du monde,
Régnez, malgré nos ennemis!
Source: AASH (Associated Alumnae & Alumni of the Sacred Heart), "Coeur de Jésus," at https://aash.org/about-aash/sacred-heart-traditions/coeur-de-jesus (accessed February 4, 2024).
Translation ©2024 Brandon P. Otto. Licensed via CC BY-NC. Feel free to redistribute non-commercially, as long as credit is given to the translator.
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