Mary’s long passion after Calvary, Mary: Day 344

Mary’s long passion after Calvary, Mary: Day 344 June 29, 2016

year_with_francis_thompsonMary’s long passion after Calvary

The English poet Francis Thompson acknowledges the terrible pain that Mary must have suffered as she stood by the Cross. But he proposes that she endured “a longer Calvary” in the following years, as she waited for death to reunite her at last with her Son.

O Lady Mary, thy bright crown is no mere crown of majesty; for with the reflex of his own resplendent thorns Christ circled thee. The red rose of this passion-tide doth take a deeper hue from thee,

in the five wounds of Jesus dyed, and in thy bleeding thoughts, Mary!

The soldier struck a triple stroke, that smote thy Jesus on the tree.

He broke the Heart of Hearts, and broke the saint’s and mother’s hearts in thee.

Thy Son went up the angels’ ways, his passion ended; but, ah me! Thou found’st the road of further days a longer way of Calvary:

On the hard cross of hope deferred thou hung’st in loving agony,

until the mortal-dreaded word which chills our mirth, spake mirth to thee. The angel Death from this cold tomb of life did roll the stone away;

and he thou barest in thy womb caught thee at last into the day, before the living throne of whom the lights of heaven burning pray.

—Francis Thompson, “The Passion of Mary: Verses in Passion Tide”

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . .  .

Have I ever experienced a “hard cross of hope deferred”? How might Mary’s experience of that cross make it easier for me to bear?

CLOSING PRAYER

Blessed Virgin, through the consolation of your presence and prayers, help us to bear the burden of hope deferred, looking to your Son, who is our hope of final, eternal joy.

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