Unsullied Shell, in whose integrity
The priceless hidden Pearl was found to be;
Hail peerless Diadem, in which we see
The Crown of indefectibility,
The Offspring of Eternal Purity.
Mother of Holiness, all hail, to thee,
Fountain pellucid from the One in Three.
Life bearing Fountain, gushing forth from thee
Mankind to quicken with vitality -
Mother of Jesus, hail, all hail, to thee.
The 'Hidden Life' we praise and bless in thee
Whom thou didst draw from Heaven, for us and thee;
Eternal Life, that came and hid in thee,
His chosen Hiding-place on earth, when He
In peace could lead that Hidden Life with thee.
The Pattern of 'Obedience' thou. Through thee
Obedience changed our fallen destiny
God's Will fulfilling, and the just decree
Reversing, of our mortal agony
By disobedience gendered 'neath the tree.
And who may speak of that 'Humility'
Thou sharedst with thy God? who chose to be
The humblest Creature of Humanity?
Him did thy lowliness embrace, when He
Stooped to accept thy 'Holy Poverty.'
Lo, for His 'Reverence' was He heard; and He
In this a counterpart had found in thee.
Thy humble bearing, joined with dignity
Unrivalled, witnessed to the Majesty
Of Him whose Presence overshadowed thee.
For us, a Well art thou of 'Purity,'
Since Purity had made a home in thee.
Lo, thou alone, and first, wert proven to be
In this the Image of thy God - that we
And our defiled nature cleansed might be.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote