35. The Descent of the Holy Ghost

O mighty Mother! why that light
In thine uplifted eye?
Why that resplendent look of more
Thau queenlike majesty?

Oh waitest Thou in this thy joy
For Gabriel once again?
Is heaven about to part and make
The Blessed Vision plain?

She sat: beneath her shadow were
The Chosen of her Son;
Within each heart and on each face
Her power and spirit shone.

ITers was the courage they had won
From her prevailing prayers;
They gazed on her, until her heart
Began to beat in theirs.

Her Son had left that heart to them:
For ten long nights and days,
The Saviour gone, no Spirit come,
She ruled their infant ways.

Queen of the Church! around thee shines
The purest light of heaven,
And all created things to thee
For thy domain are given I

Why waltest thou then so abashed.
Wrapt in ecstatic fear.
Speechless with adoration, hushed,
Hushed as though God were near?

She IS a creature! See! she bows,
She trembles though so great;
Created majesty o'er whelmed
Before the Increate!

He come! He comes! that mighty Breath
From heaven's eternal shores;
His uncreated freshness fills
His bride as she adores.

Earth quakes before that rushing blast,
Heaven echoes back the sound,
And mightily the tempest wheels
That Upper Room around.

One moment — and the silentness
Was breathless as the grave;
The fluttered earth forgot to quake,
The troubled trees to wave.

One moment — and the Spirit hung
O'er her with dread. desire;
Then broke upon the heads of all
In cloven tongues of fire.

Who knows in what a sea of love
Our Lady's heart He drowned?
Or what new gifts He gave her then,
What ancient gifts He crowned?

Grace was so multiplied on her,
So grew within her heart,
She stands alone, earth's miracle,
A ])eing all apart.

What gifts He gave those chosen men,
Past ages can display;
Nay more, their vigor still inspires
The weakness of to-day.

Those tongues still speak within the Church,
That Fire is undecayed;
Its well-spring was that Upper Room,
Where Mary sat and prayed.

The Spirit came into the Church
With His unfailing power;
Pie is the Living Heart that beats
Within her at this hour.

Speak gently then of Church and Saints,
Lest you His ways reprove;
The Heat, the Pulses of the Church
Are God's Eternal Love.

Oil let ns fall and worship Him,
The Love of Sire and Son,
The Consubstantial Breath of God,
The Coeternal One!

Ah! see, how like the Incarnate Word,
His Blessed Self He lowers,
To dwell with us invisibly,
And make His riches ours.

Most tender Spirit! INIighty God!
Sweet must Thy Presence be,
If loss of Jesus can be gain.
So long as we have Thee!