We ask you, urgently: don’t scroll past this

Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources—essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.

Help Now >

An Advent Poem: The Star Still Shines

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes

Though men may lift the barren gift, rich incense clouds the air. When loaf and cup once more raise up the Flesh and Bone of prayer.

Click to Watch the An Advent Poem: The Star Still Shines video

Highlights

By Mary Jo Matthews
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
12/7/2017 (7 years ago)

Published in Living Faith

Keywords: Advent, poem, prayer, spirituality, Catholic, Prose, Mary Jo Matthews

ATHENS, GA. (Catholic Online) -

The Star Still Shines

Oh, star set high in a winter sky
by God's almighty hand
stretch forth thy light and shine tonight
on men in every land.

In hearts renew the flame that drew
proud kings to an Infant's birth -
the first crusade when a humble maid
gave God to the hungry earth.

Retard the pace of men who race
for coins of this world's minting.
From the measure spanned by a Baby's hand
pours golden wealth unstinting.

Though men may lift the barren gift,
rich incense clouds the air.
When loaf and cup once more raise up
the Flesh and Bone of prayer.

And the blood not dry and the battle cry
of the wars that are never won
seem but as loss 'neath the tall dark cross
and the myrrh that anoints God's Son.

The gifts of today could never pay
for a stall in a barren manger
but the star still shines, and its golden lines
light the feet of the weary stranger.

-------
Mary Jo Matthews is a journalist, writer and poet who lives near Athens, Georgia. Mary Jo, now 86, was a 19 year old student at the then College of Notre Dame of Maryland when she wrote this poem.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Enjoy Daily Readings? Pay it Forward

Catholic PDFs - Print - Free Light a Virtual Prayer Candle

Announcing NEW Catholic Online News - Visit Today!

Catholic-Owned Grass-fed Beef that Supports FREE Catholic Education

Supporting FREE Catholic Education with Grass-fed Beef

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.

An Advent Poem: The Star Still Shines

Highlights

Enjoy Daily Readings? Pay it Forward

Join the MovementWhen you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Daily Catholic

Announcing NEW Catholic Online News - Visit Today!

Supporting FREE Catholic Education with Grass-fed Beef

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.