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

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*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

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*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

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*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

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

From'A Silence full of bells'