The Blessed Mary's Land

By H. W. Longfellow

This is indeed the Blessed Mary's land,
Virgin and Mother of our dear Redeemer!
All hearts are touched and softened at her name:
The priest, the prince, the scholar, and the peasant,
Alike the bandit with the bloody hand,
The man of deeds, the visionary dreamer,
Pay homage to her as one ever present!
And even as children who have much offended
A too-indulgent father in great shame,
Penitent, and yet not daring unattended
To go into his presence, at the gate
Speak to their sister, and confiding wait
Till she goes in before and intercedes:
So men, repenting of their evil deeds
And yet not venturing rashly to draw near,
With their requests, an angry Father's ear,
Offer to her prayers and their confession
And she in heaven for them makes intercession,
And if our faith had given us nothing more
Than the example of all womanhood,
So mild, so merciful, so strong, so good,
So patient, peaceful, loyal, loving, pure,
This were enough to prove it higher and truer
Than all the creeds the world has known before.

We are indebted to the Christian Family, in which this document was once printed, for being made aware of its existence.