It’s a solemnity and a Meat Friday, I hope you’re celebrating today! I posted last week with some celebration ideas and free printables for the feast of St. Joseph. But I had to pop back in today to share one of my ALL-TIME favorite poems. We read it for St. Joseph’s Day. We read it for Holy Saturday. I’m mostly a 🤖 but this poem gets me RIGHT IN THE FEELS every single time. I love it so much.

Limbo, a poem by Sr. Mary Ada, OSJ

The ancient greyness shifted
Suddenly and thinned
Like mist upon the moors
Before a wind.
An old, old prophet lifted
A shining face and said :
“He will be coming soon.
The Son of God is dead;
He died this afternoon.”

A murmurous excitement stirred
All souls.
They wondered if they dreamed —
Save one old man who seemed
Not even to have heard.

And Moses standing,
Hushed them all to ask
If any had a welcome song prepared.
If not, would David take the task?
And if they cared
Could not the three young children sing
The Benedicite, the canticle of praise
They made when God kept them from perishing
In the fiery blaze?

A breath of spring surprised them,
Stilling Moses’ words.
No one could speak, remembering
The first fresh flowers,
The little singing birds.
Still others thought of fields new ploughed
Or apple trees
All blossom-boughed.
Or some, the way a dried bed fills
With water
Laughing down green hills.
The fisherfolk dreamed of the foam
On bright blue seas.
The one old man who had not stirred
Remembered home.

And there He was
Splendid as the morning sun and fair
As only God is fair.
And they, confused with joy,
Knelt to adore
Seeing that he wore
Five crimson stars
He never had before.

No canticle at all was sung.
None toned a psalm, or raised a greeting song.
A silent man alone
Of all that throng
Found tongue —-
Not any other.
Close to His heart
When the embrace was done,
Old Joseph said,
“How is Your Mother,
How is Your Mother, Son?”

😭 🥰 🤗

I love it so much, I had to make it into a printable this year, so we can display it, at least from St. Joseph’s Day to Holy Saturday!

Folks with a Catholic All Year Membership get this poster (and much more!) as part of the exclusive March liturgical year printables that also includes monthly clipart calendars, prayer booklets, and saint day recipes. But you can also get it on its own here.

UPDATE 2024: This poem is available as a FREE digital download here!

And, good news, my laser-cutting pal Ashley and I have been working nonstop all week to restock the very popular Tenebrae sets for the Triduum.

Tenebrae Hearse Candelabras are available in two styles, including a set of 100% beeswax candles, and will ship out in time for Spy Wednesday.

They are available in limited quantities and sold out very quickly last week. See the Tenebrae Hearse Candelabra here and the Simple Tenebrae Candle Holder here. (Note: a Simple Tenebrae Candle Holder is included in the Triduum Subscription Box. Subscription Boxes are currently sold out, but we plan to open subscriptions again after Easter!)

Enjoy your solemnity today!

St. Joseph, pray for us!