The Mantle of Mary

Fair is the hue of your mantle, Mary --
(Take me to shelter, take me to hide!)
"From the deep skies of heaven it drank all its color,
In the deep pools of Heaven my mantle was dyed."

Fine is the cloth of your mantle, Mary --
(Take me to shelter, take me to hide!)
"Ah, careful was the carding and careful the spinning,
And piteous the shearing of my dear Lamb's side."

Warm is the web of your mantle, Mary --
(Take me to shelter, take me to hide!)
"It is woven of rare wool, woven of fair wool --
The soft white fleece of my Lamb Who died."

Draped like a queen's is your mantle, Mary --
(Take me to shelter, take me to hide!)
"Yea, God hath exalted His handmaid, Who made me
Mother of His Word and His Spirit's bride."

Full are the folds of your mantle, Mary --
(Take me to shelter, take me to hide!)
"That all generations be shielded and succored,
The cloak of their Mother is a deep cloak and wide."

Ah, wrap me around with your mantle, Mary --
(Take me to shelter, take me to hide!)
"Child of my sword-pierced soul, I shall guard you,
Little blood-brother of the Crucified."

--by Patrick O'Connor

I came upon this in the scriptorium of a Trappist monastery in Oregon (Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey, in Lafayette, to be precise) during my brief period of Observership there. I had never seen it before, and I have not seen it since. But it struck me so much that I had to note it down. It's not great poetry, by any means, and I know nothing about the author aside from his name. But the Marian piety, the child-like trust, the tenderness of it never fail to touch my heart and leave me deeply moved. I especially like: "That all generations be shielded and succored, the cloak of their Mother is a deep cloak and wide."

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.