The Desires of the Holy Fathers

WHEN the ancient saints were waiting,
Hope came down to their relief,
And made lighter by its presence
The sore pressure of their grief.
Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant Justum. — Is. xlv. 8,

But still, hope deferred, together
With the longing which they had
To behold the promised Bridegroom,
Made them sick at heart, and sad.
Pouring forth their supplications —
In their misery they lay,
Sighing, weeping, and lamenting,
With strong crying night and day,

That He would the times determine,
And among them come and stay ;
' O that I,' so one entreated,
' Might rejoice to see His day ! '
' Hasten, then, Thy work, and finish ;
Send Him, Lord, Whom Thou wilt send,
Was the cry of one. Another's,
' O that He the heavens would rend !

' That I might behold His coming,
And my wail be turned to mirth ;
Let the clouds rain down the Just one,
So long desired on the earth ;
' Let the earth which brought forth briers
Now break forth, and in their room
Let it bear the sacred flower
Which shall ever on it bloom.'

Others also : ' O how blessed
Shall that generation be !
Which shall merit in time coming
God's Most Holy Face to see ;'

' Men shall throng around, and touch, Him,
They shall in His sight remain ;
In the sacraments rejoicing
He Himself shall then ordain.'