Weekday

IN PRAISE OF THE VIRGIN MARY

From the devotional poems of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 4

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Clear the way for the entrance of the bold adventuress who undoes injustice, who smashes insults. The sun’s rays are her resplendent armor, the stars her helmet, the moon her boots. On her shining shield with which she dazzles hell, a mountain is emblazoned and golden letters: Most beautiful .

Celebrated for her beauty, feared for her ferocity, she is jaunty and valiant, and angelic is her beauty… She dispelled the charms of the ancient serpent whose conspiracy set us under slavery’s yoke. She avenges wrongs and annuls unjust laws, gives refuge to orphans’ and shelter to widows. She liberated prisoners from that prison where, were it not for her daring spirit, still they’d await their release. All hell trembles at the mere mention of her name. And they say its very kings fast on her vigil. She’s the one who bore for us a Lion, whose fierce roar has put to shameful flight the Dragon and his sorcery. Warrior most valiant amid the cheering throng, her service to the Holy Empire entitles her to the imperial crown.

The celebrated champion who with spirit and skill won over the Holy Land, where she triumphs forever. She is the one, whose tread no demon can endure. When he sees her feet, He takes to his heels.

Crowned with glory and honor, the deeds that brought her fame, since they cannot be contained on earth, send her riding out of this world.

As knight errant of the spheres on a new adventure, she finds the hidden treasure sought by so many. There with a certain virtue secretly sheltering  her, she is assured of life eternal. She comes just in time, and it would be only just, for her not to die like the others who lived like no other.

4 Sor Juana Inén de la Cruz. Selected Writings. Trans. Pamela K. Rapparport. New York: Paulist Press, 2005. 45, 49-51.