MARY OF NAZARETH

MARY OF NAZARETH

Mary Queen of heaven is a mighty queen,

but Mary of Nazareth was a queen no less,

although Nazareth folk never dreamed they had seen

in the carpenter’s house a queen in working dress;

a queen sweeping a floor or laying a table,

or washing the supper things at fall of night,

and, even had they watched, they would not have been able

to see the angel who came in a cloud of light,

an angel with great eyes aflame with wonder

who knelt before this girl and spoke to her.

The sound of his voice was more terrible than thunder,

but she was not terrified.  She did not stir.

and when she spoke, the angel bowed his head,

knowing what power moved in the word she said.

Sister Maris Stella

Commonweal.  23 December 1938

Used with permission