How can the Son of God be said to be
In need of aught? As Man alone can He
Fulfil all Justice; and as Man can He
Alone the wine-press tread of suffering. He
The debt must pay: what need hath He of thee?
Lo, hath the Son of God most perfectly
The Law fulfilled, and the sad destiny
Of fallen Man averted: wilfully
For every crime, His Precious Blood would be,
Of broken Law, the boundless Penalty.
Yet, if for every child of Adam be
A share reserved as his own penalty,
A share in union with those sufferings, see,
How deep and wide the awful Mystery
Of God in Man - in dying Agony.
Man did not sin alone: and so will He
Not be alone in this great Mystery
Of retributive Justice, though 'twas He
Whose pure Obedience purchased victory -
Since Perfect Man and Perfect God was He.
The Law condign of Justice now will be
Shared by the Partner of Man's destiny:
The Perfect Woman therefore fearlessly
Assumes her right and takes her share to be
Co-partner in His woes, ineffably.
Adam and Eve this wondrous unity
In Human-kind foreshadowed: for not he
Alone might live, nor yet alone might be
Ripe in perfection, since paternity
Created was - a Dual-unity.
Fallen was the race when that great Unity
From its perfection drooped: nor would there be
A resurrection of the type, 'till He,
The Second Father of Mankind, should be,
With Perfect Woman joined, a Victim free.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote