Saturday, September 14, 2019

FIFTH DOLOUR



FIFTH DOLOUR

Her hands, long and strong,
in whitened grip of agony
stare,
more anguish screams
From ghastly knuckles
locking in the tides of pain
than from any salty tears
her lashes veil.

Her head, upraised, regal
in prayerful resignation
proclaims
the dignity of priestly lineage[1]
which offers sacrifice
of purest white,
as Mary clutches to her heart
the torturous exchange
of Son for sons.[2]

Sister M Lalemant CSJ
Commonweal.  23 February 1962




[1]According to tradition, Mary and her parents Anna and Joachim descended from the House of David, king and priest, as did St Joseph, her spouse (Luke I:27).
[2] This is a reference to the Catholic teaching that when Jesus gave Mary and the apostle John to one another as mother and son as He hung dying on the Cross (John XIX:26-27), He simultaneously gave His mother to the entire human race as its mother and all people to her as her children.

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