In the face of the Godless and tyrannical French Revolution, the peasants of several sections of the French countryside rose up in defense of their God, their Church, their King and their way of life. This French Counter-Revolution, which had its inception in the Vendée, was a popular uprising led by such famous nobles as Henri de la Rochejaquelein and François de Charette.
For years these French Catholics fought in the Vendée, achieving heroic victories and suffering terrible defeats. Finally most of the Vendée uprising would be bloodily suppressed,
although Catholics would go on fighting guerilla wars elsewhere in France. This French Counter-Revolution produced countless martyrs for the Faith.
La Catholique was a popular marching song of the French counter-revolutionaries.
French Lyrics:
Depuis dix neuf cents ans et plus,
La France est la France de Jésus.
Depuis les Francs et les Gaulois,
La France a toujours dit: "Je crois."
Hardi contre la clique,
Sans patrie et sans Dieu,
Pour la Foi Catholique,
Français debout car Dieu le veut.
Chantons La Catholique,
Vive la France et Dieu.
La belle France de Clovis,
De Charlemagne et de Saint Louis,
De Jeanne d'Arc et de Bayard,
Vers Dieu levait son clair regard.
Hardi contre la clique,
Sans patrie et sans Dieu,
Pour la Foi Catholique,
Français debout car Dieu le veut.
Chantons La Catholique,
Vive la France et Dieu.
Mais une bande de vautours,
Planant sur elle de nos jours,
A fait de l'ombre sur la Croix,
Et réduit la France aux abois.
Hardi contre la clique,
Sans patrie et sans Dieu,
Pour la Foi Catholique,
Français debout car Dieu le veut.
Chantons La Catholique,
Vive la France et Dieu.
La France pleure et tend les bras,
Malheur à qui ne l'entend pas.
Honte à qui n'ose pas bouger,
Lorsque sa mère est en danger.
Hardi contre la clique,
Sans patrie et sans Dieu,
Pour la Foi Catholique,
Français debout car Dieu le veut.
Chantons La Catholique,
Vive la France et Dieu.
Nos fiers ancêtres ont lutté,
Pour nous donner la liberté,
Pour conserver pareil trésor,
Luttons comme eux jusqu'à la mort.
Hardi contre la clique,
Sans patrie et sans Dieu,
Pour la Foi Catholique,
Français debout car Dieu le veut.
Chantons La Catholique,
Vive la France et Dieu.
Sans crainte risquons notre peau,
Pour la Croix et pour le Drapeau.
Autour d'eux si nous nous serrons,
Par ces deux signes nous vaincrons.
Hardi contre la clique,
Sans patrie et sans Dieu,
Pour la Foi Catholique,
Français debout car Dieu le veut.
Chantons La Catholique,
Vive la France et Dieu.
Translation:
For more than 1900 years,
France is the France of Jesus.
Since the Franks and the Gauls,
France has ever said: 'I believe'.
Hardy against the mob,
Unpatriotic and godless,
For the Catholic Faith,
Frenchmen rise up for God wants it.
Let’s sing La Catholique,
Long live France and God.
The beautiful France of Clovis,
Of Charlemagne and Saint Louis,
Of Joan of Ark and of Bayard,
Raised its clear gaze towards God.
Hardy against the mob,
Unpatriotic and godless,
For the Catholic Faith,
Frenchmen rise up for God wants it.
Let’s sing La Catholique,
Long live France and God.
But a bunch of vultures,
Hovering over it these days,
Have overshadowed the Cross,
And reduced France to moaning.
Hardy against the mob,
Unpatriotic and godless,
For the Catholic Faith,
Frenchmen rise up for God wants it.
Let’s sing La Catholique,
Long live France and God.
France cries out arms extended,
Misfortune to those who do not hear it.
Shame on he who dares not help,
When his own mother is in danger.
Hardy against the mob,
Unpatriotic and godless,
For the Catholic Faith,
Frenchmen rise up for God wants it.
Let’s sing La Catholique,
Long live France and God.
Our proud ancestors have struggled,
To bring us freedom,
To preserve such treasure,
Let us like them fight to the death.
Hardy against the mob,
Unpatriotic and godless,
For the Catholic Faith,
Frenchmen rise up for God wants it.
Let’s sing La Catholique,
Long live France and God.
Without fear let’s risk our lives,
For the Cross and the Flag.
If we close ranks around them,
By these two symbols we shall win.
Hardy against the mob,
Unpatriotic and godless,
For the Catholic Faith,
Frenchmen rise up for God wants it.
Let’s sing La Catholique,
Long live France and God.
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