Sequence 89. Of the Blessed Virgin

LET the Church on earth be singing
Holy hymns, to earth's ends ringing,
Round the pure and virgin bed
That Word filleth,
As He willeth,
Heaven-descended ;
Whilst unended
Is His mother's maidenhead.

By this Word's blest Incarnation
Adam's re-formed generation
Back to heavenly things is led.

Faith our guide, inquiries making,
Through them, each one singly, seeking,
Let us carefully unfold
What is of the Mother stated,
What is of the Word related,
In the prophecies of old.

First, Isaiah saith these things :
" Lo ! a rod from Jesse springs,
From whose root shall rise a flower ! "
To the Virgin points the rod.

And the flower to that man-God,
Who doth all the world restore.

Bright-faced Daniel ! say : " Behold now !
From the mount an hewn stone rolled now,
Which the statue's feet doth break ! "
Mary is the mount, the riven
Stone the Word, which, sent from heaven,
Doth the haughty kingdom shake.

Strong-armed David, who foretelleth,
And the bold Goliath quelleth
With a sling and with a stone.

Conquered through a faith excelling,
Crushed his foes, the strength dispelling
Of a race so faithless shown.

Flesh the sling, the Word the stone, is ;
If my tale as yet unknown is,
Still believe thou every word :
Truth hath now been born on earth,
No pollution at which birth '
Was by chastity incurred.

O that birth indeed was holy,
Wherein was no sadness truly,
Yea, which was with joy full filled !

'Twas a birth extraordinary,
Not a pang the limbs did weary
Of the Virgin through her Child.

Grace o'erflowing.
Round it glowing,
Covered fully
And made holy
That so very peaceful birth ;
That the true Lamb,
Great, but human,
Thence a creature,
Twain in nature.

Might proceed and come on earth.
To destroy death's mortal power,
With our fleshly nature's dower,
Mary ! He within the bower
Of thy spotless womb lies hid.

Earth with peace Christ's birth endoweth ;
Rests the Child and crowns bestoweth
On the meek, but overthroweth
All the haughty sons of pride.

Filled with light that grace supplieth,
Where the King's Son, cradled, lieth,
Who alone the seals untie th.

And can read the seven-sealed tome,
Let us a new song be raising,
And the Virgin's Son be praising.

That new Chief with worship gracing,
Who to seek for us hath come !

Show us therefore Thy compassion.
Thou, Who didst our souls re-fashion !

Whom, O Father Christ ! Thou savest.
And whose hearts within Thou gravest
With Thy countenance's light.

That we, to that realm directed,
At some future time expected,
May rejoice. Thy peace possessing,
Which Thou blessest with the blessing
Of a blessedness so bright ! Amen.