Great as thou art, O Virgin, thou dost see
Thyself in God, with all intensity:
His Handmaid only, hast thou sought to be
And as His Handmaid, wilt thou reverently
Perform thyself, with Him, the Lord's decree.
When John and James, His brethren, sought to be
Preferred by Him to some high dignity;
Them asked He simply: Would they dare to be
Partakers of His Cup? and willingly
His burthen bear of dire indignity?
The Chalice marks the honour. Who could be
Than those more worthy of His destiny?
Who bear more bravely each indignity?
But when His hour of triumph cometh, she
Shall sit enthroned by Him in majesty.
Now, 'tis the hour of tribulation. He
Is treading in the winepress. Ruthlessly
Hath clothed Himself with our infirmity,
That, as the Man of Sorrows, He may be
The Lamb of God, slain from eternity.
For our transgressions will He wounded be;
For our chastisement will He bruised be;
And all life-long, the path of suffering He
In patient silence will, unweariedly
Unto its close, tread uncomplainingly.
And when the Lord of Lords came suddenly
Into His Temple, none were there to cry
* Hosannah,' for a simple Babe they see,
Ransomed by Gifts of holy Poverty -
Meet emblems, Mother, of thy Babe and thee.
Yes, 'tis the hour of darkness. Ceaselessly
Rages the conflict with the enemy -
Darkness 'gainst Light. O Woman, this is He,
Thy Babe, who hath the warfare waged; and thee
Hath called to share His Cup - His Victory.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote