The May Magnificat
MAY is Mary’s month, and I
Muse at that and wonder why:
Her feasts follow reason,
Dated due to season—
Candlemas, Lady Day;
But the Lady Month, May,
Why fasten that upon her,
With a feasting in her honour?
Is it only its being brighter
Than the most are must delight her?
Is it opportunest
And flowers finds soonest?
Than the most are must delight her?
Is it opportunest
And flowers finds soonest?
Ask of her, the mighty mother:
Her reply puts this other
Question: What is Spring?—
Growth in every thing—
Flesh and fleece, fur and feather,
Grass and greenworld all together;
Star-eyed strawberry-breasted
Throstle above her nested
Cluster of bugle blue eggs thin
Forms and warms the life within;
And bird and blossom swell
In sod or sheath or shell.
All things rising, all things sizing
Mary sees, sympathising
With that world of good,
Nature’s motherhood.
Their magnifying of each its kind
With delight calls to mind
How she did in her stored
Magnify the Lord.
Well but there was more than this:
Spring’s universal bliss
Much, had much to say
To offering Mary May.
When drop-of-blood-and-foam-dapple
Bloom lights the orchard-apple
And thicket and thorp are merry
With silver-surfèd cherry
And azuring-over greybell makes
Wood banks and brakes wash wet like lakes
And magic cuckoocall
Caps, clears, and clinches all—
This ecstasy all through mothering earth
Tells Mary her mirth till Christ’s birth
To remember and exultation
In God who was her salvation.
Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J. (1844-89)
from Maiden and Mother: Prayers & Hymns to the Blessed Virgin Mary Throughout the Year
from Maiden and Mother: Prayers & Hymns to the Blessed Virgin Mary Throughout the Year
The Winners of the May Day Giveaway in Honor of Our Queen and Mother are:
- scmom (Barbara) – “What a lovely drawing! All very nice gifts. I post every day in May for Mary…one small thing I can do for love of her.”
- Joy Beyond the Cross – “I love, love, love all of these beautiful items. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win! God Bless!”
- Melody – “I sure would love to win any of these. 🙂 Happy May! Ave Maria!”
- montanamama90 – “I would be so happy to win any of these! ~Kaylyn”
- Kerry – “How thoughtful of you, Jess. What a lovely giveaway. Please enter me.”
Congratulations to you all! I’ll be emailing you soon for your mailing addresses.
Thank you again to Angie at Jesse Tree Treasures and to Krista for sponsoring this giveaway!
Mary, Mother of the Church, Pray for us!
Thank you so much! What a wonderful surprise. 🙂
Wow! Hot diggity-dog! I can't believe I won something! And it's my birthday today too (the 7th)–my first without my beloved husband. I can't help but think he may have had a hand in this. Thank you so much, Jess!!!
It was my pleasure to offer The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary for this give-a-way! I hope that it will bring many graces and blessings to the winner!
God bless!