FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION.
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hereto shall we liken this Blessed Mary Virgin,Fruitful shoot from Jesse’s root graciously emerging?Lily we might call her, but Christ alone is white;Rose delicious, but that Jesus is the one Delight;Flower of women, but her Firstborn is mankind’s one flower:He the Sun lights up all moons thro’ their radiant hour.“Blessed among women, highly favoured,” thusGlorious Gabriel hailed her, teaching words to us:Whom devoutly copying we too cry “All hail!”Echoing on the music of glorious Gabriel. Herself a rose, who bore the Rose,She bore the Rose and felt its thorn.All Loveliness new-bornTook on her bosom its repose,And slept and woke there night and morn. Lily herself, she bore the oneFair Lily; sweeter, whiter, farThan she or others are:The Sun of Righteousness her Son,She was His morning star. She gracious, He essential Grace,He was the Fountain, she the rill:Her goodness to fulfilAnd gladness, with proportioned paceHe led her steps thro’ good and ill. Christ’s mirror she of grace and love,Of beauty and of life and death:By hope and love and faithTransfigured to His Likeness, “Dove,Spouse, Sister, Mother,” Jesus saith.
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