Now knowest thou that blessedness, while o'er Heav'n's multitudinous voices thine doth soar In sweetness, singing while the Bridegroom's brow

Shines o'er thee, singing through the eternal Now.

O Jesu, God eternal, gently prove,

And teach us how to praise Thee! Thou that love Dost only to the pure in heart disclose,

Which Thee, the Father, and the Spirit knows.

COMMEMORATION OF HOLY WOMEN.

AT THE FIRST VESPERS.

A man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless let every man of you in particular so love his wife even as himself: and the wife see that she reverence her husband.EPHES. V.

"Ad nuptias Agni Pater."

To the Lamb's festival

God doth His people call;

Blest she who hears that nuptial song,

And sits those guests among.

Love is her bridal tie,

Her dower is poverty;

'Mid earthly clouds she heavenward springs,

And treads on human things.

Stern hardihood she wears,

And penitential tears,

With fasting girt, as with a zone,
Her heavenly race to run.

Unto the Crucified

She looks, like faithful bride, Prepared, where'er He lead the way, To suffer and obey.

Blest they, whom God above

Doth bind with cords of love :

Them shall the heavenly Bridegroom own, In soul and body one.

This union grant to me

Thrice Holy, One and Three:

Ye fill the universe so wide,

But with the meek abide !

AT MIDNIGHT.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust her. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.-PROV. xxxi.

"Adeste, sanctæ conjuges."

COME behold a holy grave

Of one in virtue brave,

Whom Faith and Love, though here so dim,
Now clothe with wings of seraphim.

By insidious follies woo'd,

She put on fortitude,

And beauty that doth flow from Thee,

Soul of indwelling piety.

Where the world would weave her thrall,

She fled the glittering pall,

Lest pleasure, with her arts refined,

Should gradual gain the unwary mind.

Hers was not the adorning

Of plait, or gold, or ring,

But meekly clad, in spirit free,

Of unadorned simplicity.

'Neath her looks serene conceal'd

Stern virtue hid her shield,

Fearing to lose that love within,
Which half is lost by being seen.

Lingering at the heavenly door,
Her food was holy lore;

Still daily in the courts of prayer,
Still glad her household toils to share.

All doth flow from Thy great urn;
All doth to Thee return;

The praise be Thine, Eternal Three,
As was, and is, and aye shall be !