Classic Poem

Upon the virgin mother's breast
Asleep the Holy Infant lay,
As fill'd with awe His parents press'd
Into the temple courts to pray.

Sure never gifts of costlier price
Were offer'd at the throne of prayer,
Since Abel's earliest sacrifice,
Than they that hour presented there.

The tribute of their humble vow;
The doves which breathed of sin forgiven;
The calm of Joseph's saintly brow,
Reflecting all the peace of heaven;

The mother's mystery of bliss
In giving up to God her Child,
When at her gentle reverent kiss
Incarnate Love look'd up and smiled;

For as the lowly offering
Was on the brazen altar laid,
The closer seem'd the Babe to cling
And fonder to the blessèd maid.

Now human love and love Divine
Are seen to be for ever one;
The Father's infinite design
Reveal'd in His Eternal Son,

Who there self-emptied, self-abased,
God everlasting was and is,
And by the virgin's arms embraced
Embraces heaven and earth in His.

O lordliest Child, O lowliest Lord,
With majesty and meekness crown'd,
By saints and seraphim adored,
In swaddling bands of weakness bound;

Jesu, vouchsafe us day by day
To follow Thy humility,
And offer, as we kneel and pray,
Pure minds and chasten'd hearts to Thee.

And, when the mystic veil is rent
Which hides the Holiest from our eyes,
O merciful High Priest, present
In the great temple of the skies,

Array'd in garments pure and white,
Wash'd in the fountain of Thy blood,
Unblemish'd as the morning light,
Thy Bride before the throne of God.