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
Poem researched by Luky


Catherine Nicolette;
This beautiful poem highlights the sacred in the ordinary - the queen in the village girl - the royal in the servant. Mary - humble, true and pure - was royal in heart and soul, and chosen by the God of All to bear the incarnation of Sacred Jesus. Sister Maris Stella portrays this reality in a poem of subtle touches, showing the power of the royal in the everyday humble things of life.