Acknowledged is thy rule, and it will be
Unending as God's endless Dynasty.
The nearer thou to Him, so verily,
The mightier His Perfections shine in thee,
In Wisdom, Might and perfect Charity.
By Wisdom art thou bound the soul to free
From doubt and darkness, when it looks to thee;
Or, when it struggles with the enemy,
And seems to fight in vain: then shouldst thou be
The Key that opens Heaven's serenity.
The Life of Prayer art thou. Thy sanctity,
O Virgin Mother, blends it endlessly
Before the Throne. The fire of Charity
That draws to God thy perfect entity
Hath but one purpose, when it flames in thee.
The Serpent's strength consists alone that he
Our nature tempts. He knows thy enmity,
And that thy strength shall manifested be
In mightier mediation - silently,
With purest hands uplifted, pleadingly.
Thou wert her client, great Saint Gregory,
Thou giant Wonder-worker. Worthily
Wouldst thou prepare thee for that dignity
To which the Church had nominated thee -
Deep pondering on the Blessed Trinity.
For, in the days of early heresy
Each doctrine of the Faith was openly
Depraved, if not blasphemed: and thou wouldst be
Prepared on all sides. Then appeared to thee
The great Apostle John, and spake to thee.
And with him, thou, O Virgin: for to thee,
Through the Evangelist, 'twas given to be
The Expoundress of the eternal Mystery
In words which, from that Church bequeathed, should be
As heritage to all posterity.
- text taken from Mary: The Perfect Woman, by Emily Mary Shapcote