Emmaberry's Pcc Countdown

[emmaberry101]

Advent Poem of the Day

 

Nun's Christmas

 

When you made my bargained cloud of breath

Remoter than the absence of Your arms,

And left me brooding in my borrowed heart

Living by loan of limb, I guessed Your face

Under the roof of singing, found Your hand

Reaching across my silence, almost, Lover.

 

I have transcribed Your lips into a summer

(So quick, so quick for the low, familiar call!)

I know what dark, mysterious ways return me

Into Your ultimate and exclusive arms.

 

But what experience stays this fluttering hour,

Measures these heartbeats I have never known

Before? My soul is shaken like a flower

In too-soon April. Child, Child on Your straw

 

Smiling Your little smiles! - my world's unsteady.

A glad new stranger wears my lips and eyes

When all I gave returns, here at this manger;

And I find my motherhood singing under a song.

 

 

 

I think Mother Francis was reading a specific passage from Francis: The Journey and the Dream by Fr Bodo when she composed this poem-they share the idea of discovering one's mother/fatherhood in the Christ Child. In a specific passage from the book, St Francis is reflecting on the new tradition (which he began) of the Christmas nativity scene, specifically the Christ Child lying in the manger. He says that, by Jesus coming as an infant, He is giving us all someone to care for, someone to love. This was especially poignant for Francis because of the loss of his parents he suffered in following Jesus as a beggar, and because of the loss of physical fatherhood which was a natural result of his chastity. It's a neat idea I had not thought of before..

[emmaberry101]

Poem of the Day

 

 

A Prayer Before Holy Communion in Passiontide

 

Come hide in me, Sweet

Let me fold the petals of my love around You.

Sink down in my swarming thoughts

Calming about You.

 

Come into the deep dark of my soul

Where no man goes . . .

Be at Your ease in my loneliness.

 

Be no more harried.

Seek no further for refuge from stones' throw.

Behold! how my longing divides to receive You!

 

Sweet, Sweet,

Through the temple arch of my lips

Come into my small house.

Pain has scoured the sin from its floors

And love swept away all regret from this shining present.

 

Come hide in me, Sweet.

You under whose wing Jerusalem would not be gathered,

Come, rest under mine.

 

-Mother Mary Francis, PCC

[emmaberry101]

Advent Poem of the Day

 

The Listener

 

Mary was full of listening

And the Word

Was uttered in her silence

Like a bellstroke.

 

In Mary was no threat

Of clangor. She was still

As summer skies

Wide-armed to wait the Sun.

 

Mary was full of stillness.

Thus she heard the Ghostly overshadow

Quiet as power,

Fall like crescendoing thunder

On her soul.

 

Only a word,

A brave consent low-spoken,

But every stone in hell

Went limp as rag.

The heavens shot up in flame.

There was no hindrance

On Mary, quiet as humility.

 

The soft-strung Word

Lost in negotiation,

Pierced Mary's bosom

Like a clarion.

In her there was no din,

There was no traffic.

Mary was full of listening,

Full of grace.

 

-Mother Mary Francis, PCC

[ChristinaTherese]

Emma, I posted a poem in Open Mic for people to critique. If you want, could you go take a look too? Here's the link for the thread: http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/125984-please-critique-my-poem/

[emmaberry101]

Poem of the Day

 

Accusation Against the Forgiving Friend

 

If only You would not forgive,

   Then might I tread my tangled ways with head unbent,

   Poisoning bittersweet remorse with discontent,

But proudly live.

 

If only once You were unkind,

   I had a refuge. But I cannot flee

   The gentle judgement of your eyes,

Your healing hands that will not leave me blind.

 

If only You were just,

   How I would burst the shackles of my shame!

   Diverting to a thousand other channels alien blame

If you were just.

 

If once Your eyes were cold,

   I should be free to go my way

   Undogged by regret, defiant-gay

And faintly bold.

 

But ever You forgive, unpityingly kind;

Your eyes are undivertable beacons in my mind,

   Stabbing its careful darkness,

   Tearing the veils away,

   Luming the awful niches

   Of gods of the latter day.

Oh! if you were relentless, then I would stand tall!

And never kiss Your feet-or crawl.

 

Edit:

 

 

 

Emma, I posted a poem in Open Mic for people to critique. If you want, could you go take a look too? Here's the link for the thread: http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/125984-please-critique-my-poem/

 

Done! And thank you for the heads-up. :like:

Edited December 16, 2012 by emmaberry101

[nikita92]

Question...how do they choose which sister you walk in with, sit next to? Etc Thanks

[Eowyn]

Question...how do they choose which sister you walk in with, sit next to? Etc Thanks

 

I'm wondering if this is done by your "age" in the community?

[emmaberry101]

Advent Poem of the Day

 

 

Advent Prophecy

 

Where tortured atoms writhe beneath the scalpel

Of our investigations, I see her coming,

Branches of flowering pity in her arms,

Healing the day with glances. And the atoms

Fall down to kiss her feet, and are made whole.

 

I hear the clash of prophecies converging

On the faint stir of life beneath her heart.

Down our loud boulevards, I see her coming. 

Lift up your heads! Blow all your factory whistles!

And point the hours on your telethons!

 

Not to Ain Karim.* To the laboratories

Where astronauts sit trim in new space jackets,

I see her coming, space held in one hand;

Her smile forgiving all the bright moon-rockets

Their errors, with the moon beneath her feet.

 

Girl of Isaias' vision, could he see you

Carry your Son into our plastic jungles

And cure our tuneless music with your singing?

Hour Isaias never dreamed is striking:

Under the neon lights, I see her coming!

 

Lift up your heads! You tall TV antennae,

Lean down and prostrate for her coming! Jet planes,

Hum the glad antiphons of our redemption!

Once over hills, now through the chromium maze,

The young girl light with child shall come and save us.

 

Accompanying picture (sorry for the grainy quality):

 

*Ein Karim is traditionally believed to be the birthplace of John the Baptist.

 

 

Question...how do they choose which sister you walk in with, sit next to? Etc Thanks

 

 

I'm wondering if this is done by your "age" in the community?

 

I believe processions/seating/and other "line-ups" are done by seniority in the PCCs, but that is an educated guess from some pictures and video I have seen. Will find out for sure soon enough! :smile4:

[emmaberry101]

O Antiphon of the Day: O Wisdom

 

 

 

Advent Poem of the Day

 

The Story Is Old

 

Love lies in a manger (the story is old)

    And Wisdom is wrapped in swaddling clothes.

For God is come forth from the fair house of gold

   And they who would find Him must bow very low.

 

   Hosanna! and gloria! sweetly unfold

   Celestial love songs. (The story is old.)

   Love lies in a manger, but bow very low!

   For Wisdom is wrapped in swaddling clothes.

 

The world's heart is jaded,

   But God is grown young!

The world's lights have faded

   Where splendor is flung

From the heart of the day-star, the star of the morn

   That shines on a manger.

   Love lies in a manger.

Whose name is eternal, of maiden is born!

 

   Hosanna! and gloria! spill on the skies

   To fall on a manger where little Love lies,

   Where Wisdom is bound up in swaddling clothes

   Deceiving all hearts save the few that bow low.

 

The tower of Babel is crumbled and gone:

The tower of David stands high in the dawn!

   Stands firm in this morning whence night is no more

   But dawn is forever! The virginal door

Of heaven is opened, the gate is flung wide

For the arms of the cross to encircle the bride.

 

   Hosanna! and glory! the dew is dropped down

   The clouds have rained justice near Bethlehem town!

   Haste, then, to the cave where mystical rose

   Is binding up Wisdom in swaddling clothes!

 

The queen of all martyrs whose blood yet unbrewed

Will flow in red gladness with that of the rood,

The virgin of virgins-by her are we led.

Ah! sweetly she bends over Wisdom's small head!

   Emmanuel! with us is God! nevermore

   Can dolor wield scepter. Then kneel to adore,

 

   While thundering glories! crash on the skies

   For the covenant's ark has yielded its prize!

   Throned now in a manger of straw-but bow low!

   God's Wisdom is helpless in swaddling clothes.

 

In labyrinth learning magi seek the light

While shepherds are keeping their flocks in the night.

And both find the manger where little Love lies,

But sooner the shepherds! Follow the wise.

 

Sing glory! hosanna! the ageless is young,

A child. And by children His praises are sung.

For only the child-heart that bows very low

Sees Wisdom disguised in swaddling clothes.

   

 

 

I got a Christmas letter from Mother today along with some other goodies. It was so great to hear from her! Though I am sure most everyone agrees that there is certainly not a dearth of contact between the entrant and the community in the days leading up to entrance! It is such a blessing to be held so close to the community, especially if they are cloistered. As the nuns would say, it is only a preview of the great familial spirit you are about to enter into. :love:

 

Only 26 days and a wake-up! If anyone's wondering, I am not putting forth much energy into daily "counting" because it is already so close! Especially with Christmas and the New Year around the corner.. It will be only a week and a half left (and a wake-up) before I even realize it. (The person typing that is one happy girl, by the way!)

Edited December 18, 2012 by emmaberry101

[ChristinaTherese]

Advent Poem of the Day

 

The Story Is Old

 

Love lies in a manger (the story is old)

    And Wisdom is wrapped in swaddling clothes.

For God is come forth from the fair house of gold

   And they who would find Him must bow very low.

 

   Hosanna! and gloria! sweetly unfold

   Celestial love songs. (The story is old.)

   Love lies in a manger, but bow very low!

   For Wisdom is wrapped in swaddling clothes.

 

The world's heart is jaded,

   But God is grown young!

The world's lights have faded

   Where splendor is flung

From the heart of the day-star, the star of the morn

   That shines on a manger.

   Love lies in a manger.

Whose name is eternal, of maiden is born!

 

   Hosanna! and gloria! spill on the skies

   To fall on a manger where little Love lies,

   Where Wisdom is bound up in swaddling clothes

   Deceiving all hearts save the few that bow low.

 

The tower of Babel is crumbled and gone:

The tower of David stands high in the dawn!

   Stands firm in this morning whence night is no more

   But dawn is forever! The virginal door

Of heaven is opened, the gate is flung wide

For the arms of the cross to encircle the bride.

 

   Hosanna! and glory! the dew is dropped down

   The clouds have rained justice near Bethlehem town!

   Haste, then, to the cave where mystical rose

   Is binding up Wisdom in swaddling clothes!

 

The queen of all martyrs whose blood yet unbrewed

Will flow in red gladness with that of the rood,

The virgin of virgins-by her are we led.

Ah! sweetly she bends over Wisdom's small head!

   Emmanuel! with us is God! nevermore

   Can dolor wield scepter. Then kneel to adore,

 

   While thundering glories! crash on the skies

   For the covenant's ark has yielded its prize!

   Throned now in a manger of straw-but bow low!

   God's Wisdom is helpless in swaddling clothes.

 

In labyrinth learning magi seek the light

While shepherds are keeping their flocks in the night.

And both find the manger where little Love lies,

But sooner the shepherds! Follow the wise.

 

Sing glory! hosanna! the ageless is young,

A child. And by children His praises are sung.

For only the child-heart that bows very low

Sees Wisdom disguised in swaddling clothes.

 

Oh my. That poem is beautiful. :love: I know I asked before, but what book/books are these poems from?

 

 

Only 26 days and a wake-up! If anyone's wondering, I am not putting forth much energy into daily "counting" because it is already so close! Especially with Christmas and the New Year around the corner.. It will be only a week and a half left (and a wake-up) before I even realize it. (The person typing that is one happy girl, by the way!)

 

:bounce: :nun2:

[ChristinaTherese]

Oops. DP

Edited December 18, 2012 by Christina Thérèse

[emmaberry101]

Oh my. That poem is beautiful. :love: I know I asked before, but what book/books are these poems from?




:bounce: :nun2:

Hi Christina Thérèse! That poem is by Mother Francis, PCC (as are all on this thread) from the book Where Caius Is. The poems in this thread come from three of her poetry books: Where Caius Is, Summon Spirit's Cry, and Variations on A Theme. I would love to send you these books before I leave if that is okay with you! It would be right before my entrance, because I read them everyday. If you would like to have the books, you can PM me your address, or I can ship them to your local post office and you can pick them up there.

Poetry lovers FTW! :P

[ChristinaTherese]

Hi Christina Thérèse! That poem is by Mother Francis, PCC (as are all on this thread) from the book Where Caius Is. The poems in this thread come from three of her poetry books: Where Caius Is, Summon Spirit's Cry, and Variations on A Theme. I would love to send you these books before I leave if that is okay with you! It would be right before my entrance, because I read them everyday. If you would like to have the books, you can PM me your address, or I can ship them to your local post office and you can pick them up there.

Poetry lovers FTW! :P

 

I love poetry, of course that would be okay with me! I just sent you a PM with my school address. Thanks!

[inperpetuity]

"I got a Christmas letter from Mother today along with some other goodies. It was so great to hear from her! Though I am sure most everyone agrees that there is certainly not a dearth of contact between the entrant and the community in the days leading up to entrance! It is such a blessing to be held so close to the community, especially if they are cloistered. As the nuns would say, it is only a preview of the great familial spirit you are about to enter into." :love:

 

:cloud9:

[emmaberry101]

Advent Poem of the Day

 

Advent Song

 

Come forth from the holy place,

Sweet Child,

Come from the quiet dark

Where virginal heartbeats

Tick your moments.

 

Come away from the red music

Of Mary's veins.

Come out from the Tower of David

Sweet Child,

From your House of Gold.

 

Leave your lily-cloister,

Leave your holy mansion,

Quit your covenant ark,

O Child, be born!

 

Be born, sweet Child,

In our unholy hearts

 

Come to our trembling,

Helpless Child.

Come to our littleness,

Little Child,

Be born unto us

Who have kept the faltering vigil.

Be given, be born,

Be ours again.

 

Come forth from your holy haven,

Come away from your perfect shrine,

Come to our wind-racked souls

From your flawless tent,

Sweet Child.

 

Be born, little Child,

In our unholy hearts.