Maiden, Yet a Mother

Our Lady, St Mary's, Little Walsingham, October 2010

1. Maiden, yet a Mother, 
Daughter of thy Son, 
High beyond all other – 
Lowlier is none; 
Thou the consummation 
Planned by God’s decree, 
When our lost creation 
Nobler rose in thee!

2. Thus his place preparèd, 
He who all things made
’Mid his creatures tarried, 
In thy bosom laid; 
There his love he nourished, - 
Warmth that gave increase 
To the Root whence flourished 
Our eternal peace.

3. Noon on Sion’s mountain
Is thy charity; 
Hope its living fountain 
Finds, on earth, in thee: 
Lady, such thy power, 
He, who grace would buy 
Not as of thy dower,
Without wings would fly.

4. Nor alone thou hearest 
When thy name we hail; 
Often thou art nearest 
When our voices fail; 
Mirrored in thy fashion 
All creation’s good 
Mercy, might, compassion 
Grace thy womanhood.

5. Lady, lest our vision, 
Striving heavenward, fail, 
Still let thy petition 
With thy Son prevail, 
Unto whom all merit, 
Power and majesty 
With the Holy Spirit 
And the Father be.

Dante Alighieri, 1265-1321
tr. Mgr Ronald Knox, 1888-1957