THE FOURTH STATION

THE FOURTH STATION*

On blood-stained cobblestones

she stands,

holding out to Him

her helpless hands.

Her tear-filled eyes are dark

with all the woe

of mothers who have watched

their children go

Down bitter paths of pain

to die - 

the while she, anguished, stands

all helpless by.

Sister M Consilia PHJC

Catholic World. March 1947

____________________________
*The Fourth Station of the Cross: Jesus meets His afflicted mother.

From 'A Silence full of bells'

PROLONGED MAGNIFICAT

PROLONGED MAGNIFICAT

Against the dark I need no dawn brave wings

whose flight is not so vast as my desire

a canticle intense as light made fire

is freedom's cadenced symbol now and flings

to braver heights the song Our Lady sings.

its pain-poised tones new spans of peace acquire

and rise for joyance a sky-piercing spire,

"For He who is mighty has done great things."

The bound alone are free; I know it so,

my triple bonds* make freedom triply strong

in ordered strength a plainsong way I go,

the singing way my Mother goes along.

Matching my halting tones to hers I know

essential freedom is her living song.

Sister M Columba IHM

Catholic World. December 1959

___________________
*A reference to the three vows, poverty, chastity and obedience made by religious like the poet

From 'A Silence full of bells'

ECCE VENIT

ECCE VENIT*

The hills caught up

the rhythm of her feet,

the hills of Eden,

everlasting hills

caught up the singing rhythm

of her feet,

where wisdom played

before the world began.

and all the hills on earth

have caught it up,

the rhythm of her feet,

the everlasting singing rhythm 

of her feet.

She comes

across the hills,

across the singing hills,

she comes, and lo!

The word like music spills

over the earth,

and over the hills,

she comes,

Maria!

over the hills!

Her feet are strong,

the Queen of heaven walks on fleet-shod feet

and strong;

the haughty hills are levelled,

flooding valleys for her feet

who follow where she walks.

Her feet are strong,

for she is Queen

where Holiness

is King;

For she is Bride of Everlasting Rest,

of Everlasting Fruitfulness the Bride,

mistress of earth,

and she is quick with Life,

pregnant with Light.

Maria!

Sister Chyrysostom OSB

Caelcilia. December 1957

__________________
*Look! She is coming.

From 'A Silence full of bells'

PRAYER IN THE MARIAN YEAR

PRAYER IN THE MARIAN YEAR

Not all the blackness of apparent nightfalls,

nor all the evils of the coming years

could stay your spirit, flashing out its sword-play

above the fallen body of men's fears.

Honed with love to the keenest edge of courage

you dared to trust His word (the final test!)

and see an age, when numbers past the counting

would lift your name and call its music blessed.

Now once again, O Maid of rapier vision,

thrust hopeful steel against a darkening sky;

foretell the victory that your Son has promised

Who bears "The King of kings" upon his thigh.

Now slash the air and cleave our doubts asunder -

be thou our sureness, lead us to attack,

whose feeble swords are rusting in our scabbards,

whose necks are crooked with ever looking back.

Sister M Cathlin BVM

America. 10 April 1954

_______________________________________

'Lead us to attack' refers to spiritual warfare

'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places'. Ephesians 6:12

From 'A Silence full of bells'

RUSTLEHAIRED

RUSTLEHAIRED

I see her clearly

a strong, marked face

turned in amusement

towards the sun on her right

the woman of the ages,

the woman of all times.

Sister M Catherine PSN

Africa. Undated

MARY'S PRAYER

MARY'S PRAYER

You cracked open the nutshell of my being

and brought forth a kernel of everlasting sweetness.

Sister M Catherine
Africa. Undated

SONG OF MARY

SONG OF MARY

Mary's heart was holy,

her soul was full of grace.

Mary could make heaven

out of any place.

So the eager angels

saw without surprise

Mary turn a stable

into paradise.

Mary made a cradle

from a pile of hay

and filled a stall with sweetness -

so the shepherds say.

Mary's eyes were April,

her hair was summer gold;

Jesus looking up at her

forgot the dark and cold.

Mary through the ages

has not lost her art

she can make a home for Him

even in my heart.

Sister M Catherine OSU

Miraculous Medal. December 1961

From 'A Silence full of bells'