Classic Poem

Ave, Virgo Singularis.

Ave, Mary, Life's fair Portal,
Star of Ocean, Orb immortal,
Virgins' Glory, Virgins' Prime;
Heart and flesh one whiteness sharing;
Perfect Maidenhood, yet, bearing
Jesus Christ our Lord, in time.

He, the Mover of creation,
Loveliness and separation
Giving earth and sky and sea,
Lives and reigns and all things orders,
With no term, nor bound, nor borders
To his kingdom's majesty.

Heavenly mysteries unwinding,
For his name fit language finding,
Where is now the tongue of earth?
Thought on thought man vainly masses,
Everlasting God surpasses
Thought, in greatness, beauty, worth.

Where are now thy laws, O Nature,
Time-coeval Legislature?
Fruitful is a Virgin's womb:
Him, the Verity, conceiving;
Her, the Virgin, not bereaving
Of dear honour's lily-bloom.

In the wondrous parturition,
As before the angel's mission,
Pure was Mary as the morn;
With no mother of his glory,
With no sire, in mortal story,
God, the Word, in time was born.

Almond-blossom Rod adorning,
Star dilated to the Morning,
Lo, a Virgin bears a Son;
Morn, with light and beauteous favour,
Bloom, with fruit and pleasant savour,
There, where light and fruit were none.

He, the Witness all unerring,
Him the True Light came averring
Bread unfailing from above;
Bread to sons of destitution
Asking life in absolution,
Bread refreshing faith and love.

By the sin of Eva Mother,
Every flesh-descended brother
Is despoiled of Life's true Breath;
By the love of Mother Mary,
Life and health and sanctuary
Come, replacing guilt and death.

O thou strong in deed and blessing,
Thou, whom angels come confessing,
Mary, full of heavenly grace;
Thee we laud, with supplication
That thy mighty mediation
May our many stains erase.

Penitence our weakness nerving.
We confess the deeds deserving
Wrath of God retributive;
O grief-soothing, O crown-wearing
Mother of the King cross-bearing,
Through thy pleadings we would live.

Orisons for sad ones say thou,
For the sinful pardon pray thou,
Queen, who art to God so dear:
So, may he who, not abhorring
Virgin's womb, came life-restoring,
Life-restoring reappear.

Mother of the mighty Maker
Of all being; meek Partaker
In the new life of the Cross:
Be thy Son the Breach-repairer,
Be thy Son the Comfort-bearer
To the sons of grief and loss.

He the character vouchsafe us —
Patient, when misfortunes chafe us,
Lowly, in the sunshine hours;
Faith and hope, the heavenly purest;
Charity, with life-flame surest —
Charity the dower of dowers.

Chastity's undying beauty,
And the loyal fruit of duty,
Set within, without, our shrine;
Let our life be blossom fairest,
Let our death be incense rarest
To the heart of Love Divine.

Father, Son, and Time-exceeding
Spirit, from the Twain proceeding,
Triune God — from heart and tongue,
To thy Name, with hope's elateness,
Praise, dominion, glory, greatness,
Now and evermore be sung.