“Despise not thy mother when she is old.” <br />Prov. xxiii. . <br /> <br /> <br />Heavy and sad the Church must go: <br />Full weary are her latter days, <br />And she must hush the voice of praise <br />While tears of penance flow. <br />And she must fast, though by her side <br />The Bridegroom yet on earth doth move; <br />And fear must be instead of love <br />For her own children's pride. <br /> <br />Yet, holy Mother! Lent is past: <br />And long ago the Easter sun <br />Into the middle sky hath run;— <br />Wherefore this second fast? <br />Mother! with us the Lord doth bide; <br />Yet but a little while He stays,— <br />Then for three dim and lonely days <br />Why keep us from His side? <br />He said we should not fast when He <br />Came down to live with us below: <br />Then, holy Mother! why forego <br />Our ancient liberty? <br />When thou wert in thy virgin prime, <br />Those forty days through all the earth <br />Thy heart did swell with festal mirth— <br />It was thy bridal time. <br /> <br />“Talk not, my son, of early days: <br />My precious stones were passing fair, <br />My life was Sacrament and prayer, <br />My unity was praise. <br />“These glories now are well-nigh past: <br />My son! the world is waxing strong; <br />The day is hot; the fight is long, <br />And therefore do I fast. <br />“And ye are weak, and cannot bear <br />Full forty days of Easter mirth: <br />And nought is left unstained of earth, <br />But penance, fast, and prayer. <br />“Oh! weary is my stay below; <br />And thus with strong and earnest cry, <br />As each Ascension-day glides by, <br />I fain with Him would go. <br /> <br />“Then watch and fast, like saints of yore; <br />These three new days perchance may bring <br />The earlier advent of our King, <br />And we shall fast no more!<br /><br />Frederick William Faber<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-rogation-days/
