Mother Agnes : Home at Last
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May 29, 2017Our beloved Mother Agnes breathed her last Sunday evening as we were singing the last office of the day in church. We all gathered in her room to sing Compline with her one last time:
"And now at last all-powerful Master, you give leave to your servant to go in peace, according to your promise..." (Luke 2:29)
Mother Agnes went home to God after a long struggle with Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Here is a poem she wrote some years ago, when she began to notice her loss of memory.
HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND FAITH IN ME
Life’s candle burns
lower now, flickering
it drips over words,
I search for syllables
to fit my thought,
I cannot find them.
I stumble
where no bump is
and lose my rational path
and wonder
“Where was I?”
I AM THE WAY
Quickly the conversation
vanishes behind, it’s blank
ahead, I’m islanded.
I grope to speak
the solid truth I knew
but brain can’t breach
impediment to speech
with this dim light.
I AM THE TRUTH
Fear descends, a cloud
would shroud my living heart
while fog of sadness tries to rise.
The landmark trees are greying out.
DO NOT LET YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED
Will vapors meet
and will I disappear
swallowed alive
by wordless dark fog forever grey
while my candle sputters on?
I AM THE LIGHT
O Lord, here is my candle. Blow it out.
I am no better than my father in my fear.
I ask no more of words than YES.
But while I still have consciousness
I would not slip away ungiven!
I AM GOING TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.
Read more about M Agnes' life here >
