Sequence 75. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin

September 8th.
HAIL, O mother of Christ Jesus !

Who from heaven that Son so precious
Didst conceive uncarnally !

Pure from contact with aught human,
Thou conceivedst, who, as woman,
Should'st with joy Joy's parent be !

Thou hast borne a medicine, given
Not of man, but sprung from heaven,
To an age in swift decay :
All the world in great prostration,
All the world in tribulation.

All the world in peril, lay.
This world's sin was this world's weakness.

And there is no direr sickness,
None so deadly at the last ;
Satan was in full possession,
Since down steeps of foul transgression
All the world was gliding fast.

Not yet had that seed appeared,
Which God's promise had declared
From the first to us should come;
Seed with woman as its source,
Without carnal intercourse,
Sprung from mother's spotless womb.

Of a woman choice was made,
Whom that serpent old essayed
In the heel to wound and tear :
But she, wise, and valiant too,
Made no compact with the foe,
Of his deadly sting aware.

She, with whose flesh to be blended
God's Son's glory condescended,
Bruised the subtle serpent's head :
Woman, though but weak and frail.

Doth to crush hell's power avail,
Woman, easily misled !

Virgin, who in glory shinest !
Precious beyond gold the finest !

Sweeter far than lilies ! hail !
38 NATIVITAS BEATyE VIRGINIS.

Meadows' fairness yields before thee ;
Flowers', gems', beauty, with the glory
Of proud Lebanon's forests, pale
To thy Son, thou Star of Ocean !

Mary ! ever with devotion
For thy fellow-servants pray ;
Since temptations are unending,
Endless are our sobs heart-rending,
And our sighs from day to day.

O may our prayers, our sighs, our tears.
With pity touch thine heart within ;
And, by the power thy virtue bears.

Do thou restrain what prompts to sin.
Let carnal ways, so smooth and bright.

The means to misdeeds ne'er be made :
Nor this world's empty joys delight,
With Christ's free grace at hand to aid ! Amen.