Hail

Hail, highly favored one

Full of grace, Jesus’ face.

The Lord is with you

The Lord is within you

Christ is within you

Jesus is within you

You are blessed above all women

Give your blessing to us all

Give your blessing to women

Give your blessing to children

Give your blessing to the homeless

Give your blessing to the helpless

Give us your grace

Give us Jesus’ face

Give us the Tree of Life

Whose leaves will heal

Whose fruit won’t fail

Holy Mother Mary

Set apart, God’s sanctuary

Remember us in prayer

As we sin, bring us to Jesus within

Bring us now

Bring us always

Bring us now

Bring us always now

As we pass from death to life

And from life to eternal life

Now and at the hour

Now and at the hour

Amen.

The Womb Before the Dawn

The phrase "in the womb before the dawn" comes from the translation of Psalm 110 used in The Liturgy of the Hours. I've been thinking about that idea for several months. Today, this poem came to me. Tonight is the vigil of Pentecost 2011. Pentecost is nothing less than a new creation, the birth of the Church.


In the Womb Before the Dawn

Wild winter waters,
Disordered deep,
Empty and formless void
Waiting for the wind
In the womb before the dawn.

The dove hovering
Moving over the ocean's face
Creating the foundations--
de profundis.

The breath breathes
The word speaks
From the heart of God

And there is light
To end the endless night
Of creation's confusion
At the cosmos' untamed sight
As the first day
Gives birth to the dawn.

O Mother Mary

O Mother Mary
Statuary
How does your garden grow?
May-flowers crown
Your head
As the children pray

O Mother Mary
Breviary
“Full of grace”, he said
The angel speaks
Your “yes”
And the Christ child moves

O Mother Mary
Estuary
How does water become wine?
“Do what he says”
Even though
His hour had not yet come

O Mother Mary
Sanctuary
Hide me in your womb
The dragon roars
Your seed
Crushes the serpent’s head

O Mother Mary
Reliquary
Assumed to Heaven home
Flesh and blood
Now await
Your family’s arrival there

O Mother Mary
Emissary
How does your garden grow?
May flowers crown
Your head
As the children play

© 2010 Brian Sullivan