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Show TO PRAISE MARY. Protestant Poets Whose Words Laud the Blessed Virgin. fCatholic Progress.) "Whatever may be the opinion of the average Protestant as regards the Catholic's homage of the Blessed A'ir-gin A'ir-gin and our unfaltering faith in the power of her intercession for our sins, the fact remains that Protestant poets from the most cynical to the most religious re-ligious have in their inspired moments breathed her praise in unmistakable language, uttering words which would lead one to believe that within their higher gifts they must have possessed the one which enabled them to discern dis-cern the glory of the Mother of Christ as she presents herself to our spiritual senses. The "Ave;' Hour. The following illustrations of this assertion will be of interest not merely to the student of literature but even more so to the thinking Catholic who is sufficiently well versed with the characters and writings of the poets name to realize the guidance of inspiration in-spiration which has led them to the expression of a personal homage notwithstanding not-withstanding their own professions of faith or agnosticism as the case may be: The "Ave" Hour,. (The Angelus.) "Ave, Maria": o'er the earth and sea. That heavenliest hour or heaven is worthiest thee. "Ave. Maria"; blessed be the hour. The time, the clime, the spot, where I so oft Have felt that moment in its fullest power : Sink o'er the earth so beautiful and . soft. AA'hile swung the-deep bell in the distant dis-tant tower, " Or the faint, dying day-hymn stole aloft. And not a breath crept through the rosy air, And yet, the forest . leaves seemed stirred with prayer. "Ave, . itavia"; ;'tis the ' hour of prayer; "Ave. Maria"; 'tis . the hour of love: "Ave, Maria"; may our spirits dare Look up to thine and to thy Son's above; " ; "Ave. Maria"; oJ that, face so fair; Those downcast,; eyes beneath the Almighty Dove AA'hat though 'tis but a picture image strike, v That painting is no idol 'tis too like. Lord Byron. The Virgin. Moth?r. whose virgin bosom "was uncrossed un-crossed AVith jie least shade of thought tb sin allied; AA'oman. above all women glorified. Our tainted nature's solitary boast: Purer than foam on central ocean toet; Brighter, than eastern skies at daybreak day-break strewn I AA'ith fancied roses than the unblem-I unblem-I ished moon , I Before her wane begins on heaven's . blue coast: Thy image falls to earth. . Yet some. I wen Not un forgiven the suppliant knee might bend As to a visible power, in which did I . blend All that was mixed and reconciled in tlv c. Or mo'J.er's love with maiden purity. Of high with low,, celestial with terrene. : AA'ordsworth. |
