At length the dolorous time is come when she
With fortitude must face the destiny
Which, in her Son, must now accomplished be.
Saint Joseph is at rest; and home will be
No longer home-like. Gently sorroweth she.
Lady, thy sorrows thicken: yet, oh see,
One joy is thine which no one shares with thee,
O Mother of the Saviour. 'Tis for thee
With Him to bear the burthen: 'tis for thee
Alone to know and share His destiny.
Thou art the Woman; but the Man is He
On whom the judgment falls; and heavily
By Him all justice will accomplished be.
Yet with Him, thou the Wine-press, verily
Wilt tread unto the end, unwearyingly.
Little by little Jesus tutoreth thee;
And as thy light grows stronger, strengtheneth thee.
Thou shrinkest from no suffering. Valiantly
Thy Virgin-spirit aids Maternity,
And Nature owns no law but Grace in thee.
All Grace before thine eyes would present be
In that Most Holy One - supporting thee,
Perfection of Obedience; as to thee
Himself was subject, so He seeks of thee
The same subjection to the Law's decree.
That Law of Life, Obedience is: for he
Alone the Tree of Life can taste, and be
Eternally with God, whose will shall be
In perfect, free and full conformity
With His - Father of Immortality.
Adam and Eve had disobeyed: the Tree
Of Knowledge taught our Parents, verily,
That disobedience darkens, gradually
Obscures the Light of Grace; that only he
Who doth the Will of God, in Light can be.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote