“The Blessed Mary certainly did the Father’s will Read the rest…

Her Feet Shod with Holiness 

And, if our faith had given us nothing more
Than this Example, of all Womanhood,
So mild, so merciful, so strong, so good,
So patient, so peaceful, loyal, loving pure~
This were enough to prove it higher and truer
Than all the creeds the world had known before.
Virgin, who lovest the poor and lonely,
If the loud cry of a mother’s heart
Can ever ascend to where thou art,
Into thy blessed hands and holy
Receive my prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
Let the hands that bore our Savior bear it
Into the awful presence of God;
For thy feet with holiness are shod,
And, if thou bearest it, he will hear it.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

For Reflection:

What qualities does Longfellow cite that underscore for him why Mary is the “Example of all Womanhood”? How have we seen these virtues expressed in the excerpts from A Woman Wrapped with Silence? Which of these virtues do I need most to acquire? What does the poet admit is the benefit of offering our prayers to Jesus through Mary, His Mother?

Tall men were these, the shepherds come Read the rest…

A little girl had wandered in the night, and now within Read the rest…

There was no room for them within the inn, Read the rest…

A little while, and then the day was slipping down behind Read the rest…

A Christmas Journey of Prayer*

Then the word came with the iron of empire Read the rest…

“No one could ever say more truly than Mary: Read the rest…

“The God who made all things gave Himself form Read the rest…