CHRISTMAS CAROL

CHRISTMAS CAROL

Mary sang like falling snow

and loved like violins

at the wedding of love and sorrow

in Bethlehem.

Angels crashed bewildered skies

and stars blazed into hymns,

but Mary looked in Jesus' eyes

in Bethlehem.

The night got down upon its knees,

the moon with wonder dimmed

when Mary laid her Jesus down

in Bethlehem.

Back in the bright and noisy inn,

the keeper's head was grim

for Mary's face burned in his heart

in Bethlehem.

And all love has a wound in it,

but joy with tears can limn

since the wedding of love and sorrow

in Bethlehem.

Mother M Francis PCC

Friar. December 1957

Used with permission

From 'A Silence full of bells'

CAUSE OF OUR JOY

CAUSE OF OUR JOY

(Concerning Seven other Sorrows)

They said: "He has a devil!" Jesus - whom you

had known announced by angel, had heard sung

by sky-flung host of angels on that night

in Bethlehem, and would hear told by angels:

"Risen! He is risen. Not here, He!"

                                                                          It was the crushed grape of your heart 

                                                  first ran our wine of joy.

Or when familiar brow of hill grew furrowed

to knolls of anguish that men should lay claim

on nature's loyal innocence to cast Him

over and down, lest sound of truth be heard

by townsmen of Him, traitorous cousinry,

                                                                          It was the crushed grape of your heart 

                                                  first ran our wine of joy.

Counted over and over in your loving

were twelve, a dozen in solicitude

of you for them; food, sandals, lodging rest.

before the Supper was not intuition

already, Mother, yours? One shall betray Him.

                                                                          It was the crushed grape of your heart 

                                                  first ran our wine of joy.

What sword of sorrow pierced your listening love,

to hear Him cry: "I thirst" who once had nursed Him

with substance of yourself? What now to give

save substance of your willing of your Cross-stand

improvident but for love's partnering.

                                                                          It was the crushed grape of your heart 

                                                  first ran our wine of joy.

"Let Him come down! He cannot save himself!"

How cruel drumbeats on your memory,

O Mother of many liftings to your breast

a Child too small to save himself from falling,

grown now to cross's hoisting past your arms.

                                                                          It was the crushed grape of your heart 

                                                  first ran our wine of joy.

That was the whole world's weeping face laid in your

Pieta'-ed lap when Peter's face went down

into your lap of mercy and you were

first made Queen of Confessors to first pope

needing your healing hand on memory.

                                                                          It was the crushed grape of your heart 

                                                  first ran our wine of joy.

We search our joy and find its price too high.

Wine without treading down's the drink we seek,

and all in vain unless you teach us, Mother:

                                                                          It was the crushed grape of your heart 

                                first ran our wine of joy.

Mother M Francis PCC

Summon Spirit's Cry. San Fancisco:Ignatius Press.

(c) 1996. Mother M Francis PCC. All rights reserved. 

Used with permission

From 'A Silence full of bells'

CAUSE OF OUR JOY

CAUSE OF OUR JOY

When thou mad'st God a flesh to wear

and gave Him two small eyes to see

earth-craft He did some aeons back,

thou madest laughter, too, Marie.

Our mirth grew strong within thy womb

along with that small Saviour sweet,

and all our songs were born that night

a little God lay at thy feet.

Sorrow we had full-plenteous

without thee, and we found the way

of lonely pain with never need

for thy dear hand to beck or stay;

But singing and laughter only came

when thou agreedst to queen the earth

and heavens too, with mothering

alike our Saviour and our mirth.

Cause of our music and our glee,

Lady, our joy glows all from thee!

Mother of all felicity

that ever wast or shall e'er be.

Mother M Frances PCC

Cord. January 1956

Used with permission

From 'A Silence full of bells'

ANNUNCIATION

ANNUNCIATION

Swifter than jet-cleaved air is ribboned, love flies

by flawless automatics of the heart

back to this hour, girl, and angel, curving

wings of its own against her lifted face.

Here is the home of ours and of ages

toward which time groped, and flowing eternities.

Ever will love return and close this hour,

warm on its starkest cry and brightest song.

Haven and hangar built by God for hostel

on the macadam bleakness of whatever

threatens or comes, love praises best this hour

with petals of silence strewn along its lintel.

Mother M Francis PCC

Spirit. 1962-63

Used with permission

From 'A Silence full of bells'

ADVENT PROPHECY

ADVENT PROPHECY

Where tortured atoms writhe beneath the scalpel

of our investigations, I see her coming,

branches of flowering pity in her arms,

healing the day with glances. And the atoms

fall down to kiss her feet, and are made whole.

I hear the clash of prophecies converging

on the faint stir of Life beneath her heart

down our loud boulevards, I see her coming.

lift up your heads! Blow all your factory whistles!

and point the hour on your telechrons!

Not to Ain Karim.* To the laboratories

where astronauts sit trim in new space jackets,

I see her coming, space held in one hand,

her smile forgiving all the bright moon-rockets

their errors, with the moon beneath her feet.

Girl of Isaias' vision, could he see you

carry your Son into our plastic jungles

and cure our tuneless music with your singing?

Hour Isaias never dreamed is striking;

under the neon lights, I see her coming!

Lift up your heads! You tall TV antennae,

lean down and prostrate for her coming! Jet planes,

hum the glad antiphons of our redemption.

Once over hills, now through the chromium maze,

the young girl light with Child shall come and save us.

Mother M Francis PCC

Spirit. 1962-1963

Used with permission

____________________________________

*Traditionally the home town of Mary's cousin Elizabeth.

From 'A Silence full of bells'

ANNUNCIATION

ANNUNCIATION

O gentle maid, O lovely-hearted woman,

sprung from the seed of patriarchs and kings,

conceived immaculate,* divinely destined Virgin!

O mystic rose, the overshadowing Wings

Above thy listening soul stood on that day

when God leaned down to touch His earth with grace,

and planted in thy womb, its tendrils curled,

the living Vine of love; thy radiant face

was rapture-thrilled. The careless world went on

nor knew the miracle was wrought. Thy word,

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord! His will

be done," a breathless heaven, adoring, heard;

and knelt unto its tabernacled God

made flesh beneath thy pure heart's virgin-shrine

forever blessed and reverenced art thou:

Love's covenant and pledge, Love's seal and sign.

Sister M Faith OP

Anthonian. April 1957

_____________________________________

*Reference to the Catholic teaching that the Blessed Virgin was free from the stain of original sin from the moment of her conception

From 'A Silence full of bells'

YE WHO MOURN BE COMFORTED

YE WHO MOURN BE COMFORTED

As eyes that love grow tender after tears,

so sorrow gives the hand a gentle touch;

then, Mother of all Sorrows, still the fears

that hold the world in unrelenting clutch.

Sustain the weak, and calm unquiet hearts

and minds as restless as the shifting sand.

more potent far than all the finer arts,

is vibrant language of the heart and hand.

O give them courage now to dig the field

and gather fruits of labour, trusting God.

Beyond all thought will be the harvest yield;

for lifeless wheat will blossom at His nod,

as limpid water crimsoned into wine,

to show the power of the Living Vine.

Sister M Eulalia

Commonweal. March 1934

From 'A Silence full of bells'

MARY OF THE DESERT

MARY OF THE DESERT

You are the one oasis

from which sprang forth

that Stream

which fructifies all life.

You are the calm oasis

where our nomadic souls

find rest

and are lulled again to sleep

by whispering of His will.

You are the fruitful oasis

in our desert of sparsity

for to you we raise

our tired hands of sorrow

to beg for the Fruit of your womb.

Sister M Ethna OSF

Cord. November 1966

From 'A Silence full of bells'

DEATH OF OUR LADY

DEATH OF OUR LADY

Mary has fallen 

gentle seed to earth

that a new plant of life glorious

might rise triumphant.

Seven times has she planted in sorrow*

and watched it blossom joy.

Oh - we have known her beauty

because her seed has fallen.

Each sorrow held her

within a canyon of silence

but God entered her valley

to sing His fiat of glory.

Sister M Ethna OSF

Cord. August 1961

__________________________

*Reference to the Blessed Virgin's seven sorrows: [1] the prophecy of Simeon, [2] flight into Egypt, [3] the loss of Jesus, [4] the meeting with Christ on His way to Gethsemane, [5] standing at the foot of the cross while Jesus died, [6] taking down Christ's body from the cross and [7] the burial of Jesus.

From 'A Silence full of bells'

FLYING BIRDS On the Feast of Our Lady's Assumption

FLYING BIRDS

On the Feast of Our Lady's Assumption

In a compact body, keeping perfect rhythm,

above the smoking factory chimney's crest,

regardless even of the beauty of the green fields,

waving trees, and joyous, shouting children,

the birds circle the heavens in their morning flight.

So, surely, must the Angels have borne aloft

Our Lady on that first Assumption Day!

Intent on the beauty of Him on whom they desire to look,

they ignore the things of earth and gaze on her

whom clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet,

they bear to joyful reunion with her Son - 

with Him who is also her God.

Sister M Denis OP

Tablet. 19 August 1961

From 'A Silence full of bells'

MARCH TWENTY-FIFTH

MARCH TWENTY-FIFTH*

How dear it was that Nazareth night,

your heart all trembling with delight

when all eternity stood still

and seraphs hung with bated thrill

to wait upon your will,

sweet Lady.

Your burning heart with rapture stirred

the Father's still unuttered Word,

the Spirit's outpoured fire became,

upon the accents of your Name,

an alabaster Flame,

sweet Lady.

Down, down that midnight's depthless sea,

mid paeans of soundless melody

eternity had come to rest

timed to the heart beats of your breast,

close to the Word made Flesh,

Sweet Lady.

Sister M Consolata VHM

Ave Maria. 23 March 1957

__________________________________

*Feast of the Annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would bear the Christ-Child

From'A Silence full of bells'

A SONG FOR MARY

A SONG FOR MARY

Here is May come softly in,

sing unto my Lady,

robin shout with cheerful din,

sing unto my Lady.

Here is May all gaily dressed,

smile upon my Lady,

purple lilac at her breast,

smile upon my Lady.

Here is May, sweet-scented, fair,

bow before my Lady;

apple blossoms in her hair

bow before my Lady.

Sister M Consilia PHJC

Catholic World. May 1947

From 'A Silence full of bells'

LENT: STATIONS OF THE CROSS

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS

During Lent Christians celebrate the Stations of the Cross in devout commemoration of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the first Good Friday.  Present at Christ’s journey to his death was the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Watching her Son die, she suffered with him.  To the melody of the ancient Stabat Mater hymn, the following lyrics may be sung:

First Station: Jesus is condemned to death

Though he knew that Christ was blameless

Pilate in a deed most shameless

To the cross him did condemn

Second Station: Jesus takes up his cross

With contempt the rabble varmints

Robed the King in royal garments

To deride his royalty

Third Station: Jesus falls the first time

Weakened by the brutal flaying

Yet the wicked rule obeying

Jesus fell beneath the cross

Fourth station: Jesus meets his mother, Mary

When he met his holy Mother

Who had served him as no other

Eyes at eyes in silence gazed

Fifth Station: Simon helps Jesus carry the cross

Seeing Jesus in his meekness

Tremble from exhausted weakness

Simon helped him bear his cross

Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

The image of his holy face

Never after was erased

From Veronica’s soothing cloth

Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time

For the second time he stumbled

Flattened by the cross he crumbled

Yet he rose despite the pain

Eighth Station: Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem

Mothers of Jerusalem

Wept until he counselled them:

Save your weeping for your own

Ninth Station: Jesus falls the third time

Once again he tripped and fell

Still amid the taunts of hell

Rose and bore the cross again

Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments

Lily of all purity

How they shamed thy dignity

When they tore thy garments off

Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross

Hideous nails through hands and feet

Still the Lamb refused to bleat

As his mother‘s heart was pierced

Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross

When she stayed close by his side

For the time until he died

She sustained him by her love

Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross

When they took him down they laid him

In her arms a cradle made him

For her Son, the King of kings

Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the sepulchre

Joseph’s sepulchre received him

He was dead – yet she believed him

Three days on he rose from death

Luky Whittle - 1998

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STATIONS OF THE CROSS? VISIT
http://www.catholic.org/prayers/station.php

With thanks to youtube and catholic.org