Mother of Love undying, lo, we see
The New-named Infant resting on thy knee,
Whose Name is Jesus from all eternity:
Oh, may that Name of Jesus hallowed be,
And blended with thine own unendingly.
Mary, sweet Mother, Jesus looks to thee
In this first hour of suffering, which might be
The Ransom of a Universe: but He,
The Saviour of His people, verily,
For them will shed His Heart's Blood lavishly.
Jesus and Mary: oh, unceasingly
Do we their Names entwine - so they may be
Our Amulet 'mid earthly misery.
Jesus and Mary: 'twine we trustingly
When lone, heart-broken, and bereft we be.
Jesus and Mary: should, benignantly,
Life smile upon us, oh, vouchsafe to be
The Guardians of our short prosperity.
With childlike confidence invoked, oh, ye
The cup will bless, nor let it poisoned be.
Jesus and Mary: when in doubt we be,
Or in temptation's hour to you we flee,
Safe from the snares of Satan we shall be.
Mary, oh, guide us o'er this restless sea:
Jesus, oh, save us in extremity.
O Jesus, Child of Mary, born to be
Our Portion here, our Joy eternally:
Keep us from danger when we cry to thee.
And thou, O Mary, pray unceasingly,
And be our Life-boat on this surging sea.
When the dread hour approacheth stealthily,
And all life's work is ended, so that we
Await in fear and trembling God's decree -
Jesus and Mary, take us tenderly:
By those dear Names invoked, oh, set us free.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote