2012 August | This Molten Skin

Voveo Nos

I love a good rebel. especially a good aussie one.

This is my crown of sonnets for Mary Mackillop. A woman of uncompromising values, strength & singularity of vision.

It tells the story of her life & struggle. A brilliant & inspirational story. I hope my poetry does it justice.

8th of August, 1909. 103 years since you left this earthly realm.

I’d say ‘Rest In Peace’ Mary, but that was never your style…

Instead I’ll just say

“thank you”

# A sonnet is basically 14 lines of 10 syllables written in Iambic Pentameter. My weapon of choice is the Shakespearean sonnet. 3 quatrains where the rhymes fall on the 1st & 3rd line & the 2nd & 4th. The end two lines are what are known as a couplet. 2 finishing lines (the 13th & 14th) that rhyme with each other.

# This type of poem is called a Crown of Sonnets. Basically, it’s 15 sonnets written in a row. The end line of each sonnet has to become the first line of the next sonnet & then the final sonnet has to be a sonnet that is comprised of the first lines of the preceding 14 sonnets.

# Voveo Nos means ‘pray for us’ in latin.

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Voveo Nos

This rebel born to sweet reforms amaze

This woman that no man will ever tame

This angel touching hearts with saintly ways

This gallant maiden, hallowed be her name

Our Mary walks the walk and fights the fight

This perseverance sets her life apart

Her journey thrust upon the path of light

The passion burns within her sacred heart

She smiles at each awaiting trial and test

A battling brave, the bride of Christ defined

A loving servant dwells within her chest

A skilled tactician lives within her mind

This warrior of heaven fights the holy war

A gentle loving soul within her core

With hearts designed for labour, love and toil

As angels born to spread their wings and soar

To till the common earth of southern soil

Amidst a crisp Australian summers morn

With cloudless heavens shining brightest blue

On January 15^th she was born

In Fitzroy, Melbourne 1842

From humblest Scottish folk comes something great

For God has graced this girl with gifts divine

Our Mary born the eldest child of eight

Her Godfather, the kin of Caroline

This youngster’s special spirit soon displays

The soldier fighting errant human ways

Her dearest dream is heaven’s great reward

Whilst fending for her family she prays

And counts the days until she serves the Lord

She hears the calling of an inner voice

She longs to help the homeless, hurt and lost

But father’s folly leaves her little choice

For meagre earnings barely cover cost

To God one day her life she will devote

But Mary’s kin have problems of their own

This girl must keep her family afloat

Before she serves the steps of heaven’s throne

With love she keeps the wolf away from door

The resolute protector of the poor

Our Mary meets the man who brings the goods

A Priest of virtue, vision, faith and more

The young and charismatic Father Woods

The Catholics condemned, to wolves were cast

The government preferred to teach of tools

In 1851 the law was past

To stop the funding of religious schools

A charming priest, a man of great entice

They share a common theme, a dream to teach

With minds resembling lightning striking twice

Their fusion finds these goals within their reach

Penola, South Australia leads to Rome

This Aussie maiden travels far from home

With Father Woods her dreams and visions start

To gain the seal of Holy See in Rome

And found the sisters of the sacred heart

For Julian and Mary have a goal

A dream to freely educate the poor

To bring the word of God to common soul

A holy schoolhouse with an open door

On 19^th March in 1866

She’s made the orders first and only nun

With problems, monies, rent and schools to fix

The troubled testing times have just begun

For every disease there comes a cure

For love of God and man she must endure

For poverty, control and sacred pact

She suffers til’ the pain becomes inure

To keep the orders holy vows intact

Endorsed by Bishop Sheil at first

The constitutions doctrine soon incites

The local bishops want control dispersed

Now Mary battles for the Josephites

She steers the path the orders nuns must take

Refusing wisely to negate control

For convents sake, she puts it all at stake

The bishop excommunicates her soul

This course of action leads to Peters Dome

She takes her righteous fight to holy Rome

A pilgrim seeking blessings from the pope

By boat she takes the journey over foam

The Vatican’s support her only hope

Delivering her fervour filled demands

With strength she keeps her visions dream alive

Impressing with the weight of her commands

To see the orders doctrine will survive

For wisdom, grace and guidance Mary prays

Her reverent displays dispelling fears

Convincing Pius of her holy ways

She stays in Europe nearly two whole years

She holds her own, compelling yet demure

A pious woman standing proud and pure

She stands defiant, shadow looming large

She thwarts attempts to make her dreams obscure

By those that wish to see her not in charge

Though Bishop Quinn expects to rule the flock

A Formidable force he soon will find

This woman’s will is forged from iron rock

No tempest, storm or man can change her mind

For Mary forged a path, she blazed new trails

With power, strength and will she took control

Within a church and country run by males

She redefined a woman‘s place and role

This clever strategist preserves with style

A life of vision, poverty and trial

A woman of nobility abound

With poise she handles lies, deceit and guile

With quiet dignity she stands her ground

The stones are cast, the accusations fly

In vain attempts to sully Mary’s name

With saintly grace she holds her head up high

Whilst falling victim to unfounded blame

As Mother General she’s forced aside

And Sister Bernard firmly takes the reigns

But Mary’s never one to be denied

She fights to see her vision still remains

An iron fist within a velvet glove

A life of faith, compassion, care and love

A life of passion, penance, pain and proof

A walking breathing gift from God above

A living testament to faith and truth

When Mother Bernard leaves this earthly realm

The order soon convenes to make their choice

Our Mary once again must take the helm

The vote is cast in one united voice

Her spirit strong and true, her body frail

The strain, demand and effort make her ill

Too gallant to accept defeat or fail

She runs on strength of character and will

The ecstasy of God is found in trial

Her struggles met amidst a knowing smile

The pain within her knees will not abate

She takes her baths to walk the extra mile

Her spirit strong can carry heavy weight

In Rotorua, healing mud anoints

As swollen sinews sting with pulsing veins

The aching hurting deep within her joints

Her ailing body struggles through the strains

This soldier puts her body to the test

She battles ailments with her brains and wits

A mighty muscle beats within her breast

She never gives up hope; she never quits

She stumbles, falls and crawls for church and love

Her life committed to the lord above

Her time now ends; she leaves this world divine

A soul set free, now soars with heavens dove

The 8^th of August, 1909.

In grief, the whole Australian nation weeps

Her death is mourned across the countryside

To Mount Street Chapel, where The Mother sleeps

The masses congregate from far and wide

To pay respect to Mother Mary’s name

They come to touch her holy hands and feet

Her life adored by rich and poor the same

At Mary’s funeral they line the street

The sisters grieve the passing of their boss

The saint of service, sacrifice and loss

Withstanding pain and crippling joint disease

For love of God and heavens holy cross

This pioneer would walk upon her knees

When grieving hearts are lost within despair

And lives do hang upon the slender rope

When there is nothing left for us but prayer

She hears our calls to God and gives us hope

When shattered dreams from broken hearts are cleft

When life seems cruel and tragedies ensue

When hope is gone and we have nothing left

Within the hour of need, we turn to you

As boats adrift upon the oceans toss

Our blessed Sister Mary of the Cross

Within your faith and strength we find belief

We pray to you within our time of loss

We pray to you within our time of grief

O’ Mary helper of the sick and poor

With love, we pray for you to cure the ill

Deliver up our prayers to Yahweh’s door

And plead our case to God and heavens will

This nation celebrates its holy Saint

She gives us miracles and hears our plight

She walks the roads where lesser hearts would faint

For even after death she loves a fight

Let each Australian child rejoice and praise