Richard Crashaw lived only thirty-six years, in tumultuous times. Born in London, he lived through civil unrest and eventually emigrated to France. His father was a Protestant clergyman who, though strongly minded against Roman Catholicism, was drawn to Catholic devotional hymns. Richard eventually became a Catholic and was given introductions to Roman officials by Queen Henriette Marie (consort of Charles I of England), who was in exile in Paris. The State of Maryland was named for her. Crashaw died at the shrine of Loreto, possibly poisoned, leaving a tremendous treasury of English and Latin poetry.

Msgr. Ronald Knox, who was an unsurpassed classical scholar, and himself a convert albeit nearly three centuries later, considered Crashaw's line on the miracle of the wine at Cana to be the most ingenious in Latin letters: "Nympha pudica Deum vidit et erubuit." ("The shamefaced waters saw their God and blushed.") The 180 gallons of water which were changed to wine represent a ruined creation restored by our Eucharistic Lord.

The waters blushed because no creature is worthy to see God face to face unless God himself gives permission. Only God in Christ knows the original intent of his creation. "I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world." (Matt. 13:35). St. Peter, who witnessed the miracle at Cana, will write that Jesus "was destined before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20). And St. Paul implicates each of us in the divine plan: "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world" (Eph. 1:3).

Because the Second Person of the Holy Trinity is not created, but is without beginning or end, he uniquely among men knows the end, or purpose, of the beginning. He weeps for Lazarus and Jerusalem more mournfully than any mortal can weep for friends and civilizations, and he exults beyond the human capacity for joy: "Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which thou hast given me."

Fr. George W. Rutler