SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE ASSUMPTION

THE ASSUMPTION

And yet tradition tells us Mary travelled far

In the uncounted years that afterwards ensued

And where she went, her work was on a par

With that of the apostles - full of good

Exhaustedly she pulled out from the fray

They laid her also in a stony tomb

And also thought her bones were there to stay

In that quiet, gloomy, subterranean room

When Thomas sadly visited her grave,

Tears in his eyes, to bid her soul farewell

They found no trace of Mother Mary, save

A sheaf of lilies freshly blooming still

The swords of Simeon's prophecy together numbered seven

And Mary will forevermore as queen reign over heaven

Amen!

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE RESURRECTION

THE RESURRECTION

Within hours to defeat the Sabbath's onset

Mary's Son was buried in the grave

Belonging to another Joseph than that

One Who had in the manger first him laid

A broken Mary stumbled from the tomb

John the Beloved took her sunburnt arm

Her other hand and arm reached for her womb

Saint John resolved to save her from all harm

The third day Mary visited the place

To find that Christ had risen from the dead

When meeting, did Mother and Son embrace?

We're sure, although the Bible never said

Patiently caring for the apostle John

She stayed behind, left Christ her Son scale heaven on His own

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE WAY OF THE CROSS

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

The truth of Simeon's prophetic words

In Jerusalem horribly came to pass

All over Galilee the news was heard

That Jesus through betrayal captured was

Pilate washed his hands in hoped for innocence

Where now were those who had so lately praised?

Masses of people showed their ignorance

Grim heads were tossed and threatening fists were raised

With nails his hands and feet were cruelly pierced

The salty blood from thorn crown blinded his eyes

After three hours of intolerable tears

The Son of God, the Son of Mary, died

Taken down from the Cross he on her knees was laid

With Mary at his burial but three or four friends prayed

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM

JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM

While Christ preached and taught the following three years

His mother stayed in Nazareth alone

In private she was filled with hideous fears:

When would the sword of Simeon be drawn?

In his hometown's synagogue our dear Saviour taught

They shouted him down for to call on him shame

He fled from their midst, bringing Mary distraught

Henceforth to Nazareth seldom they came

One day the news spread he'd been publicly praised

Seated on a donkey, he'd entered Jerusalem

Folks waving palms a holy uproar raised

He simply smiled, blessed and acknowledged them

"Blessed is He Who comes in the Lord's Name," they sang

In heaven and on earth the holy echoes rang

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: MARY WAITS OUTSIDE

MARY WAITS OUTSIDE

It was established Christ loved Mary best

The day the Cana miracle took place

But afterwards he put her to the test

Until the smile of joy had left her face

Not one word of protest Mary uttered

The day he preached while she waited outside

"Your mother and brothers are waiting", they muttered

But the tidings by him were denied

"Who are my mother and brothers?" He demanded

"Those who obey God's will upon the earth."

In this way Mary knew she'd been commanded

Humbly to wait outside for Him she'd birthed

Yet a woman in the gathering did audibly think:

"Blessed's the womb that bore you, the paps that gave you drink."

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE WEDDING AT CANA

THE WEDDING AT CANA

Concerning twenty-one years Scripture's silent

And about Saint Joseph, its writing speak no more

Tradition tells his death was far from violent

His dear soul simply slipped out from their door

Since Jesus and Mary were left on their own

At the start of the Lord's public life

It accordingly chanced that the two were alone

When the wedding at Cana arrived

The wine had run out and the bridegroom felt shy

"Please help them," of Christ Mary asked

He demurred, refusing: "It's not yet my time,"

But: "Do as He says: Fill the casks."

Christ's earliest public miracle occurred at Mary's request

It illustrated to the world that He loved His mother best

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: JESUS IS FOUND IN THE TEMPLE

JESUS IS FOUND IN THE TEMPLE

The Bible is silent about the next six years

Of Jesus' life with his father and mother

There were sorrows and joys, laughter and tears

Love reigned in their little home as in none other

Pece continued till Christ was twelve years old

And with His parents to Jerusalem travelled

The Pasch was celebrated with reverence untold

Neither parent going home, at his absence cavilled

Early in the evening the child's loss was discovered

Back in Jerusalem they searched high and low

"How is it you sought me?" Christ asked when recovered

"My Father's affairs must come first as you know."

For the next twenty-one years they were seldom apart

But Mary bore the imprint of the child's loss on her heart

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

But seeking Herod did not harm the Lord

An angel ordered Joseph in a dream

To take the mother and the Child, God's Word,

And flee to Egypt's land and its Nile stream

It wasn't easy for the family

To travel such a distance O so long

And to make matters worse, the holy three

Were unfamiliar with the Egyptian tongue

Later in Egypt they eventually learned

that Herod the King died at last

"Pack, Mary!" said Joseph, as always concerned

to wipe out the hurts of the past

The family arrived back in Nazareth's fold

When Jesus, the Son of God, was six years old

Luky Whittle

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With thanks to Legion of Mary project

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE VISIT OF THE THREE KINGS

THE VISIT OF THE THREE KINGS

The holy Family living in the stable

Received a ceremonial visit from three kings

Who brought them from their homes gifts they were able

To pack on camels' backs with other things

A blazing star had led them from the East

Their presents were of incense, myrrh and gold

Incense was for deity, myrrh for demise

the gold for His kingship of old

King Herod had asked them to show him the place

Where Jesus the King might be seen

But, warned by an angel, they left without trace

No single sign left where they'd been

King Herod in his rage lost every shred of sense

And Rachel's wails resounded as he killed the Innocents

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE

THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE

In keeping with the teaching of the Jews

They took the infant to Jerusalem

A gift of sparrows all that they could choose

To offer to the Lord awaiting them

The temple's ancient handmaid met them there

She gave the highest honour to the Lord

And saintly Simeon warned the Virgin fair

A sword would pierce her tender mother's heart

Destroying the hopes every young mother holds,

He prophetically tore them apart,

Throughout her long life she recalled he foretold

That her future showed pain on its chart

For thirty years she bravely struggled through

until the dreaded prophecy came true

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE BIRTH OF THE INFANT JESUS

THE BIRTH OF THE INFANT JESUS

In Bethlehem, confronted with a welter

Of registering people all looking for room,

Saint Joseph and Mary could not find shelter

Though signs indicated the Child would come soon

After some hours Mary, no longer able

To search for lodgings, was forced to give birth

It was in a rough, dirty Bethlehem stable

The Lord of the heavens was welcomed on earth

His foster father laid Him in a manger

Since there was no room for them in the inn

Shepherds and angels kept them from all danger

And tended to them in this world of sin

The heavenly choirs of angels sang the Gloria

As birds of earth chirruped Ave Maria

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE MARRIAGE OF MARY

THE MARRIAGE OF MARY

March and her carpenter had wed

Joseph was making the little Lord's cradle

"A beautiful couple," the Nazarenes said

Mary cleaned house and kept a good table

The birth date of her little Son drew near

All the Baby's clothes were ready made

But Mary could not hide a pang of fear

What would the neighbours say about the date?

Caesar Augustus saved the day for them

Proclaiming registration in each town

David their ancestor was from Bethlehem

With Mary on a donkey they went down

From neighbours' busy tongues the bride was saved

As Joseph and Mary the cold snowstorms braved

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE VISITATION

THE VISITATION

"Your cousin is pregnant," the angel had said

So off to Ain Karim the Virgin went

In caravan by unseen angels led

At night her bed was covered by a tent

When Elizabeth saw Mary, the child in her leapt

"Blessed art thou among women", she exclaimed

Mary embraced her - the two women wept

"The good Lord is mighty, holy His Name!"

For three months together, laughing and weeping

Praising the Lord in His mercy and bounty

Sewing and cooking or dusting and sweeping

Sharing their joys in Ain Karim county

Assisted by Mary, the small Baptist came

On a slate Zachary wrote that John was his name

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: AN ANGEL ALLAYS JOSEPH'S FEARS

AN ANGEL ALLAYS JOSEPH'S FEARS

When Joseph discovered his affianced bride

Was with child though no father was named,

He decided quietly to put Mary aside

Divorce her in private to hide her from shame

At night sleep eluded, he tossed and he turned

What man had betrayed her? the carpenter thought,

Despite disillusionment, sorely he yearned

She'd always keep wearing the ring he had bought

An angel came to Joseph in a dream

And put his mind at rest: "The Child's from God."

A stone rolled off his heart, a loving stream

Of care for Mary's child its absence brought

Rejoicing that the Infant had not been from man conceived

The carpenter Saint Joseph was unutterably relieved

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL COMES TO MARY

THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL COMES TO MARY

Gabriel the Archangel to Nazareth came

While Mary was alone and solitary

The angel called the Virgin by the name

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord's with thee."

"Fear not" he added as she shrank aside

"the Lord of Hosts selected you of yore

as daughter of Father, of Spirit the bride,

and mother of Son evermore

"I do not know man," Mary, wondering, said

"The Holy Spirit will o'ershadow you

Manless, you'll be mother, although you're unwed

Your cousin Elizabeth is pregnant too."

Mary joyously the memory stored

"Behold," she said, "the handmaid of the Lord."

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: MARY'S BETROTHAL

MARY'S BETROTHAL

Mary was fifteen, her heart lifted high

Watching the carpenter plying his trade

From her young soul came a diffident sigh

that he too might love her, she earnestly prayed

The carpenter had noticed all along

That little maiden, pious, Temple-trained,

And in his humble heart he heard a song

Of love for Mary, tuneful yet restrained

Her eyes sparkled joyfully and Yes! she said

To his meek proposal soft-spoken

And tender Saint Joseph presented the maid

With a ring of their love a true token

When it fitted her finger she felt very glad

"I'll wear this ring for evermore." she said.

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: MARY BECOMES A TEMPLE MAIDEN

MARY BECOMES A TEMPLE MAIDEN

It was the yearning of the parent pair

That Mary might become a Temple maid

The training she would be receiving there

That it might make her holy, so they prayed

And thus it happened when the child was three

Her loving parents took her by the hand

And brought her to the Temple there to be

Prepared by foremost teachers in the land

Both Joachim and Anne fought back the tears

That evening in the empty house once more

They wondered if their little one felt fears

And if she shared the loneliness they bore

Though tears of longing drenched her little face

The Temple maiden loved the holy place

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

The heart of Joachim was full of joy

The day his wife Anne told him she'd conceived

Their own princess or prince - a girl or boy

It would be like none other, they believed

How very lovely Mary was we know

Since we have hindsight knowledge them denied

No stain of sin would ever mark her soul

Conceived immaculate she lived and died

How can we fathom it? this stainless girl

Mother of our Messiah was to be

Each moment of her life would be a pearl

Of tenderness and spotless purity

"Conceived immaculate", the anthem rang

Around the throne of God the angels sang

Luky Whittle

SONNETS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY BY DR LUKY WHITTLE

SONNETS 

OF 

THE

BLESSED VIRGIN 

MARY

by

Dr Luky Whittle

Dedicated to all who honour Our Blessed Lady

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Eighteen blog posts

will contain the following sonnets

Immaculate Conception

Mary becomes a Temple Maiden

Mary's Betrothal

The Archangel Gabriel comes to Mary

An angel allays Joseph's fears

The Visitation

The Marriage of Mary

The Birth of the Infant Jesus

The Presentation in the Temple

The Visit of the Three Kings

The Flight into Egypt

Jesus is found in the Temple

The Wedding at Cana

Mary waits Outside

Jesus enters Jerusalem

The Way of the Cross

The Resurrection

The Assumption

THE LISTENER

THE LISTENER

Mary was full of listening

and the Word

was uttered in her silence

like a bellstroke.

In Mary was no threat

of clangour. She was still

as summer-skies

wide-armed to wait the Sun.

Mary was full of stillness,

that she heard the Ghostly overshadow

quiet as power,

fall like crescendoing thunder

on her soul.

Only a word,

a brave consent low-spoken

but every stone in hell

went limp as rag.

The heavens shot up in flame.

There was no hindrance

in Mary, quiet as humility.

The soft-strung Word

lost in negotiation,

pierced Mary's bosom

like a clarion.

In here there was no din,

there was no traffic,

Mary was full of listening,

full of grace.

Mother M Francis PCC

Friar. May 1969

Used with permission