Between the Times
Ray McCracken

Three times called
Bordeaux Sodality,
Brothers of Mary,
Chaminade men.

One hundred and fifty five years ago
They left the only lives they knew
People
Lands
Work that gave them daily bread.

Brother immigrants, equal exiles
Crossing oceans in crowded ships
To serve
To teach
To pray
To work beside all others.

Whispered prayers on beads
Latin chants
Lessons taught
Children with affirmation molded,
Lives forever changes.

America now the better place
For these men in Company of Mary
Graced
With faith, prayer, community and mission
And prophetic dreams of mixed composition.

Structures and attitudes now changed
Lay and religious, equal exiles in this culture,
Crossing interior oceans to enter human hearts.
Propelled by Spirit’s breath
To serve
To teach
To pray
To work beside each other.

The Brothers numbers now are few,
Faithfulness to Marianist life they legacy they’ve given.
The church awaiting the Woman’s labor,
Hears Mary proclaim to the angel anew
“ Let it be,
Let it be.”