1 Holy woman, graceful giver,
prophet, servant, and believer,
Mary with the ointment jar,
sought by Christ, by scorn undaunted,
knelt in love, his feet anointed
for his coming burial hour,
for his coming burial hour.
2 How the fragrance filled the dwelling!
How the act of beauty welling
blest all those within the place!
How the act of pure devotion,
whispering of his coming passion,
blest the heart of Christ with grace,
blest the heart of Christ with grace.
3 Lovingly Christ stilled the scoffer
who would grasping guard the coffer,
pointing to a hidden trove:
not all treasures gain and profit,
feed the poor, and feed the spirit
acts of beauty, acts of love,
acts of beauty, acts of love.
4 Though disdained or though contested,
acts of love are never wasted:
beauty is a face of God.
Graceful Mary, by your giving,
you have shown a way of living:
acts of beauty, love, and good,
acts of beauty, love, and good.
