O Tree, I name you! You’ve a soul
United to your wood and sap.
A soul, a body, all one life
A mystery to ponder, that.

Straight and tall, or wand’ring branches,
Whichever way, you have a life.
You really have existence, too:
The diff’rence of the light from night.

O Church, I name you! You’re not less
Than nature; much more than a tree
Is your life; the life you live by
Is none other than charity.

You have organs, you have powers,
A hierarchy, a structure, too.
But it’s all directed to love;
Flowing out from Love are you.

In you there is nothing evil;
God has made you, he is good.
But across our hearts evil cuts;
We’re not as much yours as could

Be. That’s the struggle in this life
But the great comfort is that we’re
One here with the Church of Heaven
When we let her life, love near.

Then our life is naught but her life:
God-created, love, hope, true.
In the sacraments, in our lives,
On the road in what we do.

Strength, O Christian! All your sins are
Never going to break this tree.
Though sin’s heavy, this tree’s new life
Will rout it out. O Charity!