Here in the church named for the dolorous one
Whither I crept across the chastened years,
I found a Virgin clothed with the sun
Who had no need of any gift of tears.

No sword explored her heart nor traced its scar,
There was no shadow sleeping on her most
Exultant face; her name was Morningstar.
She was the young bride of the Holy Ghost.

Down from a marvelous translucent altar
In a white radiance she came to me,
The angels drifted wide lest they should halt her,
A glistening ship through a seraphic sea.

Music walked with her as with harmony
And spoke the titles that her nuptials hold:
Mystical Rose and Tower of Ivory,
Ark of the Covenant and House of Gold.

Her dress was the bright satin of all luster,
Her crown was like the swarming stars aglow.
Why did I find her where the bent reeds cluster
And the shorn lamb driven by wind would go?

Where great all-brilliant wings are lifted over
The Sacrament’s glory hid in bread and wine,
Here the Immaculata and her Lover
At the long festal board of wonder dine.

This is the bridal feast that endeth never,
Bread of beatitude and wine of bliss,
Here I am vowed to Light and His bride forever…
Time has no more exalted room than this.

[Jessica Powers, 1905-1988, became Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit as a Carmelite nun in 1942.]