I was walking along this little passage between the Monastery of the Incarnation and Subiaco (the novitiate) at Saint–Loup–sur–Aujon when I saw these roses and thought of Plunkett's poem.
I see his blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.
I see his face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but his voice—and carven by his power
Rocks are his written words.
All pathways by his feet are worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His cross is every tree.
Joseph Mary Plunkett
Executed During The 1916 Uprising
(b. Nov. 21, 1887 - d. May 4, 1916)
His Excellency, the Bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma has given
Father Mark a special mandate to live in adoration before the Most
Blessed Sacrament, in a spirit of thanksgiving and intercession, that he
might make reparation before the Eucharistic Face of Jesus for all his
brothers in Holy Orders. At the same time, he is available to the
priests and deacons of the Diocese for spiritual and sacramental
support in their pursuit of holiness.
Father, This is very beautiful. For some reason, I had never come across it before. Thank You.
This is very beautiful. I have come across it many times before yet each time is like the first. And the photo compliments it very well.
I was thinking of Plunkett's poem the other day. It goes perfectly with those lovely roses!
Yes, this is very beautiful. No matter how many times I come across it, it loses nothing of its richness. Beauty, truth, joy and sadness are all so often inextricably linked.