The Shadow of the Cross hath fallen on thee,
As opens out thy glorious destiny.
Mother of Dolours art thou, verily,
While all is yet in shadow. Tenderly
Thou takest back thy Babe, thine All, to thee.
* * *
To David's Town, the Sacred Family
Returns; for there, in Joseph's eyes, would be
The fitting home for David's Son, and thee:
When lo, new glories, unexpectedly
Arise to illume Messias' destiny.
For Joseph plans with wisdom, carefully,
The work to him entrusted. He shall be
For these the Providence; which trust, will he -
Conscious of great responsibility -
With God to guide, fulfil unerringly.
'To Juda comes Messias; Galilee
Is of the Gentiles named:' thus reasoneth he,
With human prudence: the while, secretly
Unknown to him, but ever ceaselessly
God guides the movements of His Family.
Arise, Jerusalem, enlightened be:
The Glory of the Lord hath shone on thee;
No mist of darkness shall be found in thee
When, from the distant borders of the sea,
The Kings shall come to show forth praise in thee.
Lift up thine eyes, O Daughter. Look and see
How they of Saba come. Star-lit they be,
Those Kings of Ethiopia. They see
Shining in very splendour over thee
The Star, converting Gentiles unto thee.
Heaven-guided are they here. With holy glee
The house they enter and the God-Babe see
In radiant Infant beauty, on the knee
Of that grave Mother. Lo, adoringly
They fall before them both - in ecstasy.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote