74. Saint Martha

O dear Saint Martha! busy Saint!
By love's keen fervor ever pressed ]
Oh get us fervor not to faint
Until we reach our heavenly rest.

We too, like thee, since we have known
How sweet our blessed Lord could be,
Mourn o'er the years too quickly flown,
And fain would hurry on like thee.

Alas! how much there is to do,
And how much more to be undone
What obstacles to struggle through,
Yet what a glory to be won!

So, Martha! we have chosen thee
I'o be our own peculiar saint;
We want thy secret grace, — to be
Always at work, yet not to faint.

Saint of the Busy Hand and Heart!
We for thy spirit humbly cry;
O Martha! get us Martha's part, —
Not feet to walk but wings to fly.

Yet even love can hinder love.
As thou wert hindered on thy way;
Get our love prudence from above.
While at its work to watch and pray.

The will to work, the heart to pray —
Let it by these to us be given,
Swiftly, yet peaceably, all day
To wing our happy flight to heaven.

Christ looked with love into thy face,
His looks were spurs to spur thee on;
How swiftly didst thou run thy race.
How gloriously thy race was won!

Saint of our choice! oiu' Savioiir^s eyes
With tenderness beam on us now;
For thy sake He will stoop to prize
The love our lowness can bestow,

Peace, patience, courage, mother dear 1
And uttermost humility,
That safest grace of holy fear, —
These are the gifts we beg of thee.'

O Martha! make our hearts like thine,— ^
Always on fire, always in haste.
And yet like peaceful stars to shine
Untroubled o'er life's weary waste.

O dearest Jesus! in our need
Give to us Martha's burning heart;
They, who on earth have Martha's speed,
In heaven shall meet with Mary's part.