DESCRIPTION:
SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE

Even the most mundane things
like breaking an egg or
frying some onions in butter
triggered pure reverie;

had she ever had to work
I doubt she could have held a job
more than a day anywhere--
Here her humility attained perfection.

She was a complete misfit in all things
except her devotion to Christ--
Why did God raise a simpleton
and reject our offerings?

I remember her, staring at the ceiling,
trying to peel a potato,
paring and paring till nothing was left--
She went on and gashed her fingers

until I screamed and stopped her--
As I took her hand and wrapped it
tightly to control the bleeding,
she looked at me and smiled--

"Forgive me, Sister, I'm trying,
but Jesus has made me
incapable of serving Him
except in adoration." Yes,

God made this idiot a saint.
Even Sister Marie de la Croix
who hated her for doing nothing
never doubted she was chosen--

Some way to manifest His love!
Yet anyone who saw her smile
knew whatever gifts one had
were nothing in comparison--

Very few of us suspected
grace could make a ninny wise--
Our world fell like a shiny dish,
shattered by a child.

by Thomas Dorsett

First published in Slant, Summer 1990