Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PAX, by JOSEPH FRANCIS CARLIN MACDONNELL


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PAX, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Our father who, in clay
Last Line: August almighty god!
Alternate Author Name(s): Carlin, Francis
Subject(s): God; Jesus Christ; Religion; Theology


Our Father Who, in clay
From Eden, set that root
Through which to Thee we may
Yield goodly deeds as fruit
Of faith man offers up
With Sacrificial Cup:
We hail Thee, One of Three,
Sole Power Whose purpose sealed
Thy Word, the Peace-Decree,
Through Whom Thou wert revealed;
O Sire of Shepherd, yea,
Of fold, and flock astray!

And Thou, Peace-Prince, in Whom
Both King and Priest are blent;
Whose Lateran Upper Room
First throned Thy Sacrament --
Thyself -- Whose Vatican
Is now the heart of man:
We hail Thee Christ, withal,
Who left in Peter's care
Thy Keys Pontifical;
O Thou Who didst not spare
That very Self of Thine
Concealed in Bread and Wine!

Thou, too, O Living Light
In Glory's vesture-gold,
Whose pallium (as white
As Lamb in Heaven's Fold)
Binds Thee, with crosiered Son
And Shepherd's Sire, as One:
We hail Thee, lingering Dove,
At hover in the dome
Rock-pillared; Thou above
The cathedra of Rome,
O Truth Who may but rest
Within the Spouse's breast!

Thou Hidden All Whom speech
Of creature may not name
In order, since that Each
In glory is the same;
O Sacred, Triple-Crowned
Supremacy profound!
On this Thy Sabbath feast,
Thrice Holy, do Thou deign
To bless our Sovereign Priest
So that, through him, his reign
May win that peace but won
Through Mercy's benison.

Even as Nature's green
Doth shine with hope in Thee --
Thy Vicaress, the Queen
Of that Theocracy
Which Thou dost rule through her
Whose edicts may not err --
So shine the emerald beams
Of hope from Peter's gem,
O Thou Whose ruby gleams
With rays of love on them:
Thy Vicar, Holiness,
And Beauty's Vicaress!

Hail, Triarchy! Immerse
Thy blessed olive bough
In rain-bow, and asperse
Souls militant whom Thou
Dost ever lead afield
Through him who may not yield;
Yea, even as he at Mass
Sends forth the pax of Christ
So that the kiss may pass
To Redeemed from Sacrificed,
May fostering Pius thus
Pass on Thy peace to us

And if Thy Justice still
Wouldst chasten home and mart
With sword, deign Thou to will
Tranquillity of heart
To her whose hallowed blade
Is ever drawn in aid
Of our dread battlefare.
Ah! then her children, far
Yet ever near, would share
That peace which Michael's War
Broke not in Heaven -- that great
True peace of soul and State.

Grant such, O Trinal Mace.
Through Thy Vicegerent's See
To men in whom Thy grace
Prompts each, as child, to plea:
O Father, Sanctifier
And Saviour -- Triune Sire!
Deliver us from ill,
If not from war and strife
Permitted here until,
With branch from Tree of Life
Thy Dove wings o'er the dark
Of doom to Peter's Ark.

Lead Thou, Paternal Hand
In Whom Thy peoples trust,
All hearts in every land
From bonds, and ways unjust,
Yea, draw by Adam's cords,
Tiaraed Lord of Lords,
Our souls to peace of Heaven
Who wait the Sign of Love
In benediction given
From Balcony Above;
Thou Crosier, Sceptre, Rod,
August Almighty God!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net