‘The Eyes of St Foi’

 

In her younger days,

The faith of France

Was much like yours,

St Foi, fiery,

Unmovable,

Heeding neither

Flattery nor threats.

 

But the holiness

Of Gaul no longer

Freely flows.  Now

It has contracted,

And lies restricted

Within church walls

And reliquaries,

Like yours, in Conques.

 

Without its brightness,

Darkness has engulfed

The sweet French land,

With cruel despair

Also creeping in.

 

And yet, like still

Responds to like.

If even a tiny sigh

Of love for God

And His dear-worthy Saints

Escapes the shriveled

Hearts of Frenchmen,

Then the solid walls

That hide God’s Grace

Will grow transparent,

And Light and hope

Will shine upon their

Darkened faces, and give

Strength to their falt’ring feet.

 

What will you see, then,

From the piercing eyes

Of your gilded shrine?

Women and men,

Elders and children,

Whose deeds of faith

And humility

Will outshine those

Of Olivier, Roland,

And Charlemagne

To the ages of ages.

***

To read about St Foi of Conques and her unique reliquary, please visit this page:

https://southernorthodox.org/orthodox-saints-for-dixie-october/

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Holy Ælfred the Great, King of England, South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð, unworthy though we are!

Anathema to the Union!