O Mary, Full of Grace, thus doubly thee
Would He acknowledge, who wert bound to be
The only Blossom of our earthly Tree,
Whose bosom Him had borne; whose Fruit was
Through thy Obedience; lo, He owneth thee -
Thee, above Women blest: for, verily,
Great as the virtue which in her would be
Who should the Word of God conceive, yet He
Owned her for this, that by obedience, she
Fulfilled His Father's ever-loved decree.
And those who round Him sate, undoubtedly
On them He looked with love; for well did He
Their faith foreknow, and their fidelity,
Their patience and their dauntless energy,
Obedience, martyrdom and victory.
The Creature, unreservedly, saith He,
Obedient and subordinate should be;
Since, for beatitude, Man's entity
Ought, with the Uncreated Entity
Of God, in voluntary union be.
And thus, with care embracing, verily,
All the loved Children of His Kingdom, He
Points out the secret of that Family
Which He hath come to found; that we
By our obedience may acknowledged be.
How on thine eye and ear fell restfully
His Form and Language, Mary, wert thou by
That Word to hear, that blessed Face to see:
And if, perchance, He turned to look on thee,
What pure content for thy humility.
Lowliest of Women; oh, how faithfully
Thy Soul reflects the hidden mystery
Of Nature's best perfections. Lo, in thee
Shineth that grace of perfect sympathy
With Man, which in the Woman's breast should be.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote