1. O Hail, to Her who bore the King,
Our Christ and God in Flesh!
Hail She who while angels did sing,
Laid Jesus in the crèche.
2. When Holy Gabr'el didst declare,
Unto that Virgin pure,
That She would the Messiah bear,
His reign to e'er endure.
3. She followed Him with sorrows borne,
Through life and ministry,
She stood by as His Flesh was torn,
And nailéd to the Tree.
4. Now lifted up and carried high,
To sit upon His throne,
And She remains with St John nigh,
Her now his Mother own.
5. She stayed with John or at his home,
While he did journeys take,
And She helped to build up the Church,
By that which She didst spake.
6. Th'Apostles tarried close by Her,
Clinging to every word,
As ev'ry story She told were
About Her Son and Lord.
7. She showed Herself a Mother true,
And to the Church She sought,
To pray and give to God His due,
As His strong work was wrought.
8. Th'Apostles of Our Lord Jesu,
For ten years they did stay,
In David's City with Her who
Discoursed upon the Way.
9. When cruelest Herod sought to smite
And persecute the flock,
Our Lady and St John took flight,
Ephesus was their dock.
10. From there to Athos She did stand,
And there spake prophecy,
That now this land that Christ did give,
Would Her's forever be.
11. From there the Virgin traveled where
To Cyprus was She led,
To Lazar now a bishop there
Who once was four days dead.
12. The days now left to occupy
Upon this mortal plane
Began to shorten. By and by
She'd see Her Son again.
13. To David's City She went back,
To wait upon the end,
Her enemies with hate did burn
And harm they did intend.
14. Our Lord preserved Our Lady Fair,
From any harm or hurt
And those who sought to kill her there,
He did their schemes avert.
15. And at the tomb of Her Dear Son,
She oft was known to pray,
And perseveréd thereupon,
To wait on that last day.
16. On one such morning as She went
Unto that blesséd place,
St Gabriel to Her was sent,
And said "Hail, Full of Grace!"
17. "Our Lord sent me to say to Thee,
Thy race is nearly run,
This palm branch is a guarantee,
A promise of Thy Son."
18. To Bethlehem She made Her way
Where in that little town,
Her firstborn Son was born and lay
While shepherds gathered 'round.
19. Three maidens stood by to attend,
As 'pon Her bed She laid,
Awaiting now the coming end,
She bowed Her head and prayed.
20. O Noble Joseph came there too,
Disciples came likewise
To form a portion of the crew,
And witness Her demise.
21. She prayed that John would then attend,
To be there at Her side,
And by the Spirit he did wend,
And there he did abide.
22. The Spirit did perform one more
Great work upon that day
To pull Apostles from afar,
To where Our Lady lay.
23. She greeted them with greatest joy -
An answer to Her prayer!
They marvelled at Her wondrous foy
That they would all be there.
24. St Paul himself did also come,
With Denis and the rest
Of Paul's disciples. What a sum
To be with Mary blest!
25. She spoke to them all one by one
And gave Her blessing true
And praised their faith in Her dear Son
Which did in them renew.
26. The third hour came upon that day
That She Her life must cease,
And while upon Her bed She lay
There was a holy peace.
27. As She prayed then She caught the sight
Of Her dear Son and God,
And that wee room was filled with light
And angels giving laud.
28. The Forefathers and Prophets too
Did join that holy band.
In great amazement they looked who
Around Her bed did stand.
29. 'Pon seeing Her great Son the Word,
She lifted up Her voice:
"My soul doth magnify the Lord,
My spirit doth rejoice!"
30. Then She bowed down unto Him that
Did bid Her soul to come,
And join Him in that place whereat
Would be Her blesséd home.
31. Just as the Mother held Her Son
And held Him there secure,
Our Lady now, Her vict'ry won,
Christ held Her soul most pure.
32. No suff'ring of the body She
Did have within that hour,
But slept in great serenity
Awash in Her Son's pow'r.
33. The gates of heaven seeing Him
With Her pure soul did raise
And Cherubim and Seraphim
Did lift their voice in praise.
34. The sweetest fragrance did exude
From Her pure body dear
And kissing Her in reverent mood,
They laid it 'pon the bier.
35. And they who in their faith and love
That touch'd the holy bed
Did by the pow'r of God above
Have all their sickness shed.
36. Th'Apostles took Her body pure
(Their grief they did express)
And laid it on their shoulders sure.
From there they did process.
37. St John beloved of Our Lord
Was at the Virgin's head,
Palm branch in hand as they went t'ward
The place to lay the dead.
38. The fun'ral party then processed
Towards Gethsemani
With incense and with hymns most blest
And great solemnity.
39. Above Her body did appear
An awesome cloudy ring,
And as they hymned, they loud and clear
Did hear the angels sing.
40. The enemies of Christ Jesu
Were filled with spiteful ire
And sent their servants to go to
Burn up the bier with fire.
41. They then set forth upon their way,
But halted with affright.
The cloudy ring around them lay,
Depriving them of sight.
42. Anthonios, a Jewish priest,
(His mind on evil plans),
Went forth to topple the deceased
And lost both of his hands.
43. An angel had, with his great sword,
Prevented the attack.
The priest repented to the Lord,
And got his lost hands back.
44. He joined the throng with new-found foy
And with them he did trod
And afterwards with greatest joy
Did serve Our Lord and God.
45. The mourners reached that Garden grave,
The air a thick perfume.
A reverent kiss to Her they gave,
And sealed Her in the tomb.
46. Around the sepulchre they stayed,
Th'Apostles of Our Lord,
Much psalms they sang and then they prayed,
Three days in one accord.
47. St Thomas then had reached the spot
Wherein the Virgin lay.
He came there late and was distraught,
And turned to them to say:
48. "My brothers, I do beg of ye
Please roll this stone from here.
I long to look upon and see
The Blessed Virgin dear."
49. In heartfelt pity for him they
Did then remove the stone,
But as they stood in the doorway
They saw that She was gone.
50. Our Lord had raised Her from the dead
To be with Him for aye.
Nary a hair upon Her head
Subjected to decay.
51. Now with Our Lord eternally,
At His right hand She stands,
Clothéd in golden vesture She
Great honour thus commands.
52. A Woman clothéd with the sun,
The moon laid at Her feet,
Crowned with the stars placed one by one:
Her vesting now complete.
53. As Queen She reigns beside the King,
To Her homage is meet.
Of Her the very angels sing
And blend their voices sweet.
54. O hail Our Lady, hail and laud
The all pure blessed one!
O hail the Mother of Our God,
Lord Jesus Christ the Son!
55. To Him belong the glory due
And praise to the utmost
Who reigneth with the Father true
And with the Holy Ghost.
