Every year the Tirolean people swear eternal loyalty to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Text: Pastor Josef Seeber 1896. Melody: Ignaz Mitterer 1896.

1) Up to the oath, Tyrolean land,

raise your heart and hand to heaven!

What our fathers once vowed,

when the storm of war raged around them,

we swear anew,

Jesus' heart, eternal loyalty to you!

We swear anew, Jesus' heart, eternal loyalty to you.

2) Miraculously powerful everlastingly,

you were the refuge of your people,

always in need and peril of war,

you protected the red eagle.

/; Therefore, we swear anew, Jesus' heart, eternal loyalty to you! /:

3) Firm and strong by our God,

we stand despite scorn and mockery,

we hold fast to our faith,

our country's most beautiful adornment.

/; Therefore, we pledge anew, Heart of Jesus, eternal loyalty to you! /:

4) On the wide earth,

there is no more beautiful bond.

Even if our enemies blaspheme us,

loyalty is a Tyrolean custom.

/; Therefore, we pledge anew,

Heart of Jesus, eternal loyalty to you! /:

In Tyrol, mountain fires in honour of the Sacred Heart are of great significance. According to old records, the mountain fires were first lit in 1796. At that time, Napoleon was harassing Tyrol, and so the Tyroleans placed their land under the protection of the Sacred Heart.

Before Andreas Hofer and his riflemen fought the legendary Battle of Berg-Isel against the French and Bavarians, he renewed this "bonfire of loyalty" with fires on the mountain peaks. In times of war, these fires served as the "starting signal" for a simultaneous attack on the enemy.

The mountain fires (Sacred Heart Fires) are meant to affirm the indissolubility of the "covenant" to the Sacred Heart and represent loyalty to the state of Tyrol! Shapes such as "IHS," hearts, crosses, or simple fires on the mountain peaks illuminate the valley impressively.

Source