O Sacred Virgin, in Simplicity
With Joseph for thy Guardian, thou dost hie
Whither the Law commands. The passers-by
Thou heedest not: but oh, how willingly
The Temple seekest, as in days gone by.
Then was the Temple, Home. Oh, verily,
The shelter natural and meet for thee.
It was thy Father's House, where solemnly
Presented thou hadst been in infancy;
And there hadst vowed thy bright Virginity.
How long, it seems, ago. And now is she
Once more upon its threshold: she can see
The well-known Gate of Solomon; yet she
Dreams not of former days, but thoughtfully
Proceeds, deep pondering o'er the Mystery.
When last those gates she passed, a Bride was she,
The Bride of Joseph: such was God's decree.
Chaste to the chaste: her robe of Purity,
Heaven-taught he recognised. - 'Be thou to me,'
Said he, 'a Sister; Brother, I to thee.'
For many sought her hand; but only he
Whose staff the Lily bare, was meet to be
The Guardian-witness of that Purity.
His virgin soul, by God, was trained to be
The worthy Sharer of her destiny.
She, who in hiding grew, and secretly
Had found her dwelling in the Rock on high,
Had need of human shelter; so that he
Became the shadow of that Majesty
Beneath whose Shade she dwelt and loved to be.
And Jesus called him 'Father.' Blest was he
And worthy of the honour. He shall be
Henceforth the Father of the Faithful. See,
As Patron of the Church of Christ, doth he
Still serve the Bride with all fidelity.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote