IV
O Men of the World who are shedding tears,
I put Mary with her Son between you and your fears,
Brigit with her mantle,
Michael with his shield,
And the two long white hands of God from behind folding us all,
Between you and each grief
All the years,
From this night till a year from to-night,
And this night itself, with God.
[A NIGHT PRAYER]
May the will of God be done by us,
May the death of the saints be won by us,
And the light of the kingdom begun in us;
May Jesus, the Child, be beside my bed,
May the Lamb of mercy uplift my head,
May the Virgin her heavenly brightness shed,
And Michael be steward of my soul!
[MARY'S VISION]
"Are you asleep, Mother?"
"I am not, indeed, my son."
"How is that, Mother?"
"Because of a vision I have of thee."
"What vision is that, Mother?"
"There came a slim dark man on a slender black steed,
A sharp lance in his left hand,
Which pierced thy right side,
Letting thy sacred blood pour down upon thee."
"True is that vision, Mother."