Advent Summons

Come forth from the holy place,
Sweet Child,
Come from the quiet dark
Where virginal heartbeats
Tick your moments.

Come away from the red music
Of Mary's veins.
Come out from the Tower of David
Sweet Child,
From the House of Gold.

Leave your lily-cloister,
Leave your holy mansion,
Leave your covenant ark.
O Child, be born!

Be born, sweet Child,
In our unholy hearts.

Come to our trembling,
Helpless Child.
Come to our littleness,
Little Child,
Be born to us who have kept the faltering vigil.
Be given, be born,
Be ours again.

Come forth from your holy haven,
Come forth from your perfect shrine,
Come to our wind-wracked souls
From the flawless tent,
Sweet Child.

Be born, little Child,
In our unholy hearts.

Mary Francis, P. P. C., udayton.edu, accessed November 30, 2019