Our Little Lady of the Annunciation
By Eleanor C. Donnelly
Deep in the night, she lean’d her lovely head
(A lily) o’er Isaiah’s sacred Book.
—“A virgin shall conceive. . . .a son”—she read;
Then, ponder’d long with rapt and wistful look.
“Lord! let me live to see that day!” she prayed:
“ ‘A virgin shall conceive and bear a son,’—
Let me but see and serve that Blessed Maid,
Adore her Babe, the long-expected One!” *
. . .Lo! sudden glory filled the lonely place,
And, in its midst, a Presence, wondrous fair,
Celestial-tongued, proclaimed: “Hail, full of grace!”—
And, looking up, she saw the Angel there!
“The Lord is with thee,” (spake he): “Thou art blest
Among all women!”—(Praise to wound her ear!)
The little Dove was startled in her nest,
She trembled, questioning, and full of fear;
For then began that dialogue sublime
Upon whose issue Man’s redemption hung:
The Word Divine, Eternity and Time
Waiting the fiat of the Virgin’s tongue.
Et homo factus est!—She had but prayed
To see and serve the ever-blessed One
Who should bring forth the Christ. The sinless Maid
Dreamed not that He would be her own sweet Son!
More than she ask’d was given to her plea
Who deem’d the lesser boon all undeserved.
Peerless in grace, her meek humility
Made her the Mother she would fain have served.
* St. Bonaventure in his Life of Christ, chap. iii.
On this joyous feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I wanted to share the news that, as of yesterday, I have created an account with Instagram in order to provide another place where I can share updates and additional content about my stories with everyone. I will add the following image link to the top of the sidebar on the Notes from the Author webpage:
[This beautiful vintage artwork was gratefully acquired from https://www.antiqueimages.blogspot.com.]