The House Wife's Prayer
Lady, who with tender word
Didst keep the house of Christ the Lord,
Who didst set forth the bread and wine
Before the Living Wheat and Vine,
Reverently didst make the bed
Whereon was laid the holy head
That such a cruel Pillow prest
For our behoof, on Calvary's crest;
Be beside me while I go
About my labors to and fro.
Speed the wheel and speed the loom,Guide the needle and the broom,
Make my bread rise sweet and light,
Make my cheese come foamy white,
Yellow may my butter be
As cowslips blowing on the lea.
Homely though my tasks and small,
Be beside me at them all.
Then when I shall stand to face
Jesu in the judgment place,
To me thy gracious help afford,
Who art the Handmaid of the Lord.
~ Blanche Mary Kelly
A Christmas Carol
Night in the far Judean land,
The prenant air is still,
The sky one blue unclouded band,
Seems drooping o'er each hill.
The hills then toward each other bend,
Some mighty secret to portend.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
The sheep in near-by pastures browse,
Some bleat as if in pain;
The youthful shepherds watch and frowse,
Then drowse and watch again;
When lo! a light from Heaven appears
Which makes them huddle in their fears.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
God's glory shone around them there,
And then an angel cried-
"Fear not, for I good tidings bear
To you, and all beside.
For unto you is born this day
A Savior, Christ the Lord.: We pray-
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Then swinging from the skies there came
Groups of the heavenly host,
Praising the Lord in sweet acclaim-
The burden of their toast-
"Glory to God on High," again-
His "Peace on earth, good will to me."
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Within a stable sweet with hay,
And warm breath of kine,
The Baby and His Mother lay,
O, mystery divine!
The bed of straw a cloud appears,
We hear the music of the spheres.
Gloria in excelisis Deo.
Dear maiden mother, let us now,
While to your breast He clings,
In humble adoration bow
With shepherds and with kings,
And at His feet our off'ring be
Praise, love, faith hope and charity.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
~Mary O' Reilly
Ave Maria Bells
At dawn, the joyful chior of bells,
In consecrated citadels,
Flings on the sweet and drowsy air
A brief, melodious call to prayer;
For Mary, Virgin meek and lowly,
Concived of the Spirit Holy,
As the Lord's angel did declare.
At noon, above the fretful street,
Our souls are lifted to repeat
The prayer, with low and wistful voice:
"According to thy word and choice,
Though sorrowful and havy laden,
So be it downe to they Handmaiden";
Then all the sacred bells rejoice.
At eve with roses in the west,
The daylight's withering bequest,
Ring, prayerful bells, while blossom bright
The stars, the lilies of the night:
Of all the songs the years have sun us,
"The Word made Flesh had dwelt among us,"
Is still our ever-new delight.
~ Charles Warren Stoddared
The Promised Country
Fair must that promised country be
Whos streams rise from eternity
And One doth lead upon that way
Whose footfalls are the paths of day.
Nor lurking fear pursues them there,
As forward in the morning air
With Him the blessed ransomed go,
Their garments washen white as snow.
Alas! my days are very dim
That look up to the SEraphim.
Ah, Lord, some dawning may I be
One of that shining company!
~Speer Strahan C.S.C
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