"GIVE ME TENDERNESS," SHE SAID
The Prioress knelt before a marble group of the Virgin and Child,
placed where the rays of evening sunshine, entering through the western
casement, played over its white beauty, shedding a radiance on the pure
face of the Madonna, and a halo of golden glory around the Infant
Christ.
"Mother of God," prayed the Prioress, with folded hands, "give me
patience in dealing with wilfulness; grant me wisdom to cope with
unreason; may it be given me to share the pain of this heart in
torment, even as--when thou didst witness the sufferings of thy dear
Son, our Lord, on Calvary--a sword pierced through thine own soul also.
"Give me this gift of sympathy with suffering, though the cross be not
mine own, but another's.
"But give me firmness and authority: even as when thou didst say to the
servants at Cana: 'Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.'"
The Prioress waited, with bowed head.
Then, of a sudden she put forth her hand, and touched the marble foot
of the Babe.
"Give me tenderness," she said.