THE GOLDEN JUBILEE OF SISTERS OF CHARITY

How thy Half Century shines over head!

‘ Tis an unfading rain-bow, one whose dyes

Are richer and more numerous to the eyes

Of Angels, than to ours. Its rays, if spread

Above a flood of sin and world of dead,

Give to the drowned, new life, new earth, new skies.

Night counts her stars, but falters, when souls rise

Bright with the Grace which God's annointed shed.

Belov'd Irene, how great our joy to see

Thine arch, aglow with virtue's every hue!

Oh, how much more must they rejoice, who view

From inner Heaven, the arch that is for thee,

Triumphal! for than vows like thine, lived true,

No grander arch from earth to heaven could be.

The “Church Triumphant” shines in lives like thine,

Calista!‘ Tis the Saints’ procession, shown

In Dante's vision, near Lord Jesus’ throne,

In greatening splendor, never to decline.

Ah, if our minds grow dark, our hearts repine,

How, from sweet lives, dear Sister, like thine own,

Be-Mothering with mercy all who moan,

A light comes, and a warmth is in its shine.

We shade our eyes, as when we face the Sun

On level with the earth, at lives all love —

The Church Triumphant, as in Heaven above!

Aye, lives all love for Christ, in every one

Who suffers wrong, or any pain thereof,

As on His Throne — such lives as thine, dear Nun.