|
Glimpses of Heaven on Earth poetry by Sr Mary Catharina, odc
The Monastery, Loughrea, Co. Galway
J. Philip Newell Listening for the Heartbeat of God
Our Eucharistic Lord | Mary’s Month
Copyright © 2005 Mother Prioress, St. Joseph's Monastery, Mount Carmel, Loughrea, Co. Galway used with permission |
Ireland
The Isle of Saints and Scholars ‘twas hailed. What ails you now alannah? The mon and fun ne’er last for long, Don’t lose your soul for just a song, Eternity is long. Come back to what you e’er had been. Come back, come back Dark Rosaleen.
On hill of Slane that flame of faith St. Patrick lit. No fear nor shame was his. His love for God was strong. Those druids and bards, That flame of faith they dread. “Quench it”, they said, “or e’er ‘twill spread”. On Tara's hill did dwell the King when Patrick came and preached. That noble King soon saw the truth, Patrick, the King did preach.
To rural Erin, Mary came, To a village, Cnoc Mhuire, by name. What faith those simple people had. They looked and prayed, in rain they stayed. They watched those Holy Three, Mary, Joseph and John the evangelist, A vision of the Lamb had he. The Lamb of God, so pure and meek upon the altar there. The angels all surround the cross, no sound was in the air.
A place of pilgrimage is there, the pilgrims throng in earnest prayer. They tell their beads, recite their creeds, the Blessed Sacrament adore. Their voices raise in heavenly praise, as loving hearts outpour. They proceed at night by candlelight around that holy ground. And it was there that Muire, Queen of the Gael, was forever crowned.
I see the dark horizon, with sorrow, suffering and pain. Fear not, the sun will rise again And God will be supreme. If we but turn to God again, a gentle God is He. Our hearts He wants, He’ll give us peace, the truth of life we’ll see. We are the followers of Christ, and Christian is the name. Naught else will bring us peace and joy. That is our ancient fame.
Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connaught, This is our planet. God bless the people on it. Our hearts are yours, O Emerald Isle. We pray for peace during earth’s while. “That all be one”, we hear Him pray. That is our prayer to this very day. Come back to what you e’er had been come back, come back Dark Rosaleen.
|
