O can that soul that loves her God – Modernized Edition

O can that soul that loves her God¹This poem is a fragment from “Of Suffering and Bearing the Cross,” lines 1-104.
          For very shame complain
To any other than himself
          Of what she doth sustain!
No way to her was ever found,
          Nor ever shall there be,
But taking up thy Cross, my Lord,²“Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24, Douay-Rheims Bible).
          Thereby to follow thee.
This is the Way, the Truth, the Life,³“Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6, Douay-Rheims Bible).
          Which leadeth unto heaven,
None is secure, but only this,
          Though seeming ne’er⁴Never. so even.
Those that do walk this happy path,
Jesus doth company;⁵Accompany.
But those who go another way
          Will err most miserably.
And in this way do not think much,
          That thou dost much endure.
No, though it be from holy men,
          For God doth this procure:
That thou may’st seek himself alone
          And put thy trust in him,
And not in any creatures living,
          How good soe’er⁶Soever. they seem.
For suffering by the means of th’ill
          Will little thee advance;
But to be censured by the good,
          Goes near to thee perchance.
Alas, we show but little love,
          If we must choose which way
Our Lord must try our Love to him,
          And not in all obey.
We must submit ourselves to him
          And be of cheerful heart,
For he expecteth much of them
          Who be of Mary’s part.⁷Within the convent, the “better part” references the contemplative life of the cloister as opposed to the active life of the world associated with Mary’s sister, Martha: “Now it came to pass as they went, that he entered into a certain town: and a certain woman named Martha, received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sitting also at the Lord’s feet, heard his word. But Martha was busy about much serving. Who stood and said: Lord, hast thou no care that my sister hath left me alone to serve? speak to her therefore, that she help me. And the Lord answering, said to her: Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things: But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42, Douay-Rheims Bible).
For she must bear a censure hard
          From all without exception;
But thou, O Lord, wilt her excuse,
          Who art her soul’s election.
If she will patiently sustain,
          And be to thee attent,⁸Attentive.
Thou favorably wilt judge of her,
          Who know’st her heart’s intent.
For all but thou, as well she sees,
          May err concerning her;
They only judge as they conceive,
          But thou canst never err.
Complain not therefore, loving soul,
          If thou wilt be of those,
Who love their God more than themselves
          And Mary’s part have chose.
If all thou dost be taken ill
          By those of high perfection,
And further if thou be accused
          To be of some great faction,
Our Lord will answer all for thee,
          If thou wilt hold thy peace,
And from contentions, and complaints
          Wilt patiently surcease,⁹Stop.
Leaving all care unto thy God,
          And only him intend;
Yet what is ill, reform in thee,
          And this will all amend.
As far as he doth think it good,
          Who is most just and wise,
He will thee by afflictions purge,
          From what displease his eyes.
Wilt thou of all that love thy God,
          From suff’ring be exempt?
O no, but bless, as others do,
          Thy God, and live content!
Amidst the various accidents,
          That do to thee befall,
Commit thyself and all to God
          Who seeks our good in all.
Thyself art blind and cannot judge
          What is the best for thee;
But he doth pierce into all things,
          How hid soe’er¹⁰Soever. they be.
My heart shall only this desire:
          That thou my Lord dispose,
Even as thou pleasest in all things,
          Till these mine eyes thou close
By death, which I so much desire,
          Because it will procure
Me to enjoy my God, my all,
          Where I shall be secure
That none from me can take my Lord;
          But for eternity,
I shall enjoy my only good,
          And to him ever be
United by a knot of Love,
          Which nothing shall untie,
But will remain, as permanent
          As his Divinity.
O happy hour, when wilt thou come
          And set my Spirit free,
That I may love and praise my God
          For perpetuity,
Contemplating his glorious face
          With all that him adore,
Singing with them his sweetest praise,
          For ever, and ever more!