Meanwhile, the God of Heaven, peacefully
Reposeth on His Virgin-Mother's knee.
His tender Form so hides His Majesty,
That on Him may be lavished fearlessly
The unfathomed love of sweet Maternity.
Clothed hath the Lord His awful Dignity
With Flesh and Spirit Human. He would be
To wants created subject: so hath He
Himself immersed in such fragility
As needs the Mother's love to satisfy.
Asleep upon her knee: awake is He
In Spirit, and His Human Soul can see
The Vision Beatific. Yea, can He
The Light that floodeth His Humanity
Behold in Glory: God and Man is He.
And in this Glory which alone may be
By souls sustained in their perfection, He
As Man beholds all which eternally
To Him as God was present - all that He
Is bound to suffer by His Own Decree.
The Infant smiles. Oh, what is this that He
Beholdeth in the Vision? Lovingly
The Mother gazes. 1 Knows He not that He
Is persecuted by the enemy?
That from the Land of Promise, fleeth He?'
Her thought He reads, and answers speedily -
Her soul with light o'er flooding: 'I am He,
The Saviour, who have chosen thee to be
Sole Sharer of My wondrous destiny -
The only Consolation given to Me.'
Doth He reveal how in that Light sees He
The Cross, the Spear, the ruthless enmity,
The persecution, and the infamy,
And the rejection of His Love? - Nay, He
The crown beholds, which He will win for thee.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote