Laudes Mariae

"Hail, thou virgin maiden fair!"
Said he whose wings did beat the air.
A precious seed within thee grew;
Our trials and triumphs, all he knew.

Thee we revere, who was so pure
That God Himself in thee did dwell.
In labour's pangs thou didst travail,
The Word Made Flesh on Earth to bear.

At thy sweet breasts did he suckle,
And with his cousin John, perhaps he did play.
He grew and in the temple taught,
And those who heard him were amazed.

Thy precious Son understood they not,
And so to kill him did they strive.
Thy tears flowed hot as he hung
Nailed to a cross, us poor men to save.

He gave thee John,
And John thee gave,
And now we too love thee, Mother Dear.

Hail Mary,
Queen of Heaven,
Star of the Sea.
Loving foster-mother,
Thee we praise,
From ere, and now, and ages hence.
Amen.

GT 10/13/2012