The Tale of the Sacred Heart’s Battle Hymn

On the eighth day before the Ides of July, in the one thousand ninety-ninth year from the Incarnation of the Lord, the pilgrims of Christ processed barefoot around the walls of Jerusalem, singing psalms, expunging battle cries, and imploring the mercy of God. After campaigning three years toward Jerusalem, the words of His Holiness Pope Urban II still reverberated in our hearts: “Deus Vult!”-God wills it! On July fourteenth, under commander Godfrey of Bouillon, we were scheduled to siege the walls of Jerusalem yet again. As I looked upon the words of Psalm 7:6 of Holy Writ, I was moved by the strident words that blasted my heart like the trumpets at Jericho:

Exsurge, Domine, in ira tua: et exaltare in finibus inimicorum meorum. Rise up, O Lord, in thy anger: and be thou exalted in the borders of my enemies.[1]

These words captivated and pierced my soul while sending me into the ecstasy of prayer. As I rested my sword, armor, and shield upon the holy grounds containing our Lord’s relics, Jesus’ Sacred Heart spoke to me. Our Lord’s recounting of the blasphemies, sacrileges, and profanations against His Sacred Heart and Holy Wounds were inconceivable. Would not our efforts to reclaim our Christian heritage in Jerusalem be enough for the survival of Christendom? Would Christ’s suffering intensify mystically due to humanity’s rejection of His love? If anything can increment God’s sorrow toward humanity, it would be because we have rejected His love for us. Then Jesus spoke and said:

“Amen, Amen I say to you. The spirit of manhood is declining. In centuries past, the soul of every man dreamt of going into battle to defend his motherland, his family, and even his faith. Devotion to my Sacred Heart is dwindling. Where will they find their strength? To whom will they turn to defend and protect them against the devil and his cohorts? What has perverted the identity of manhood and fatherhood deforming them into effeminate boys? They have lost sight of my Parousia (my second coming), and they have forgotten my words: ‘Behold, I come quickly,’[2] and ‘I come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled?’[3] The identity of manhood has been saturated and defiled by the hissing effects of pride. Pride is the clandestine executioner of true devotion. Through pride, man has impenitently rejected my Sacred Heart, the source of all humility and love. Men no longer step into the battles I gift them, and they no longer fight for what truly matters. Rather, they dress themselves with comfort, knowledge, and luxuries without becoming warriors for my flock. A future Doctor of the Church, St. Francis de Sales diagnosed it best:

It often happens through our misery that knowledge hinders the birth of devotion, because knowledge puffeth up and makes us proud, and pride, which is contrary to all virtue; is the total ruin of devotion.[4]

Pride masquerades men into two different spectrums. On one spectrum, the man abuses his power to make others his victims. On the latter, man becomes a victim himself at the expense and destitution of his carnal desires. In both spectrums, man becomes a slave to disorder and chaos, desecrating while cementing vices that distance him further from God. Thus, it is imperative that man be found to be faithful. In this manner, God can bequeath and entrust man with an inheritance surmountable to the glory of Heaven. Erudite and Doctor Joaquin Molina affirms this by stating:

God created a man to be nothing less than a champion…[5] From the beginning of time, God always desired to entrust man with the rule over all of His earthly creation. This is why it is necessary that man, above all things, be found faithful. In this manner, God could entrust him with a greater weight of glory and have him shoulder the full weight of responsibility over the things entrusted. Faithfulness is the principal attribute of true men. If a man cannot grow in faithfulness, he will be unable to portray the true character of manhood. Faithfulness is the corner stone and calling of the masculine character. A man cannot begin, to expand his manhood until he first increases and affirms his faithfulness.[6]

As the trumpet blasts awaken the eyes of my soul to the realities of war, I realized that our Lord’s message was a dire warning for my heart to remain in his. Upon reaching my barracks, I attempted to write everything the Lord had disclosed to me. My words penciled to address you, my fellow brother and soldier in Christ:

This is the call to the consecrated and the true; warriors of the Lamb, Christ is calling you. Place sight in Paul and the Savior’s own word; we’re sanctified in Truth, by the blood of our Lord.[7] To the warrior sons who await His return, with fire in their hearts and holy concern; this battle hymn rises, it lilted and free, for knightly souls: “EXSURGE DOMINE!”, in victory. Take comfort, O warrior, do not fear the night; the Lord of Hosts rises to champion the right. When reverent hearts tremble and call on His Name, He stands as your shield in the midst of the flame. “If not now, then when Lord?” the heart cries aloud. Through silence piercing the midst-shadowed clouds. For Malachi speaks of a day yet to come, when the proud shall be stubble before the Rising Sun.[8]  A battle hymn rises, like a Cross in the Sky. Alas, my grip is tightened, my sword by my side, my King has answered, my Savior has arrived. Hear my voice, my faithful battle cry:

“Exsurge Domine-Arise O Lord! Unite my faithful heart unto thine.”

Exsurge Domine Battle Hymn

Verse I-II
O Lord my God, in You I hide,
When shadows hunt and fears arise.
Through every trial, through every flame,
My trembling heart still calls Your Name.

The lion roars against my soul,
Yet in Your hands I am made whole.
Though dust may claim my earthly frame,
Your mercy still remains the same.

Pre-Chorus
Search every secret deep within,
Cleanse every wound, forgive my sin.
Be my defense, my holy shield,
The righteous King who never yields.

Chorus
Exsurge Domine — arise in might,
Awaken now and stand to fight.
Be lifted high above my foes,
Let Heaven’s fire and justice flow.
Arise O Lord, let the nations see,
Your righteous power setting us free.
In wrath against the darkest wrong,
Exsurge Domine — my battle song.

Verse III-IV
The wicked dig their hidden graves,
Yet fall beneath the traps they made.
Their arrows burn, their anger flies,
But truth endures and never dies.

You judge the hearts, the reins, the soul,
No secret darkness You don’t know.
The upright rest beneath Your gaze,
Protected by eternal grace.

Bridge
I will sing of the Lord Most High,
Though tears may fall and years pass by.
Your justice shines beyond the night,
Your Sacred Heart becomes my light.

Final Chorus
Exsurge Domine — arise in might,
Awaken now and stand to fight.
Be lifted high above my foes,
Let Heaven’s fire and justice flow.
Arise O Lord, the heavens sing,
All glory to the righteous King.
Through every age Your truth belongs,
Exsurge Domine — forever strong.

[1] Psalm 7: 6

[2] Revelation 22: 7, 12, 20

[3] Luke 12:49

[4] Know Thyself, St. Francis de Sales, Meditation 51, p. 107

[5] What is a Man?, p. 26

[6] What is a Man?, p. 104, 105

[7] Acts 20: 28-38; John 17: 11-19

[8] Malachi 4:1