Writing Contest Winner

Our Lady's statue, lonely, idle–

Where is the Catholic revival?

Once, in a time long ago,
The people crowded in the snow.

They saw their Mother, with hearts aglow.
But where did all the faithful go?

Where are those heads of chrism?
Have they all fallen to Communism?

A terrible thing it is to see
This sacred, holy place empty.

In olden times there used to be
Many a heart and bended knee.

But now all those hearts have gone–
Flaming souls now turned to stone.

The fire of God once dwelt within–
Who will lighten them again?

Who will answer Our Mother's supplication,
To cast Russia in her dedication?

Then the people mould she would,
To form their souls again in good.

But who will respond to this, her call?
Who will pray, with their all?

It is our duty as Catholics, then,
To pray to move the wills of men.

To beg the Pope to answer Mary
In her plea for Russia's many.

Our Lady for simple prayers does ask–
Is that for us too hard a task?

Souls suffering in socialism stand,
Deprived of the good of God's fatherly hand.

Now in favor they could lie,
In the sweet gaze of the Infant's eye.

But until that glorious day,
We must for this intention pray–

That someday there will be a time
When Russia echoes with churchbells' chime.

Let us hope Mary's tender face
Will witness Russia's dawn of grace.