Page:The Christian Year 1887.djvu/161



Ave Maria! blessed Maid! Lily of Eden's fragrant shade, Who can express the love That nurtured thee so pure and sweet, Making thy heart a shelter meet For Jesus' holy dove?

Ave Maria! Mother blest, To whom, caressing and caressed, Clings the eternal Child; Favoured beyond Archangels' dream, When first on Thee with tenderest gleam Thy new-born Saviour smiled:-

Ave Maria! thou whose name All but adoring love may claim, Yet may we reach thy shrine; For He, thy Son and Saviour, vows To crown all lowly lofty brows With love and joy like thine.

Blessed is the womb that bare Him—blessed The bosom where His lips were pressed, But rather blessed are they Who hear His word and keep it well, The living homes where Christ shall dwell, And never pass away.


 * And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other. Acts xv. 30. Compare 2 Tim. iv. 11.  Take Mark, and bring him with thee:  for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Oh! who shall dare in this frail scene On holiest happiest thoughts to lean, On Friendship, Kindred, or on Love? Since not Apostles' hands can clasp Each other in so firm a grasp But they shall change and variance prove.

Yet deem not, on such parting sad Shall dawn no welcome dear and glad: Divided in their earthly race,