Our Lady's Dormition and Assumption

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.