The Vision by Virna Sheard (1909)
A marginalized woman, burdened by a lifetime of sin and isolation, devotes herself to ritual at a neglected shrine despite a past that has alienated her from the joys of life. Consumed by grief and haunted by her failures, she is treated as an outcast, shunned by both society and spiritual warmth. In a moment of profound despair, her steadfast faith is rewarded by a supernatural encounter: a compassionate maternal figure descends from the divine, cradling a small, sacred infant. This miraculous intervention symbolizes the offer of redemption and the transformative power of grace. The work explores themes of sin, forsakenness, and the possibility of renewal, suggesting that even those marked by shame and abandonment can find solace and rebirth through divine mercy. The narrative intertwines religious imagery with personal anguish, illustrating that spiritual salvation and acceptance are attainable when least expected.
By Virna Sheard · First published 1909 · Genre: Religious Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction · 160 words
First lines
Long had she knelt at the Madonna's shrine, With the empty chapel, cold and grey, Telling her beads, while grief with marring line And bitter tear stole all her youth away.
Outcast was she from what Life holdeth dear; Banished from joy that other souls might win; And from the dark beyond she turned with fear, Being so branded by the mark of sin.
Yet when at last she raised her troubled face, Haunted by sorrow, whitened by alarms, Mary leaned down from out the pictured place, And laid the little Christ within her arms.
Rosy and warm she held Him to her heart, She -- the abandoned one -- the thing apart.
What this Textopian page supports
The Vision is listed on Textopian as a short story by Virna Sheard, dated 1909 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Virna Sheard
- Date: 1909 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Poetry, Drama
- Length: 160 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Vision by Virna Sheard
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Vision?
- How does this short story by Virna Sheard fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Religious Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Religious Fiction — The narrative centers on spiritual redemption, divine intervention, and biblical symbolism.
- Gothic Fiction — The mood is marked by dark imagery, isolation, and themes of sin and penance.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and elements such as shrines and religious ritual evoke a distinct historical context.
- Poetry — The verse structure and lyrical language underscore the expressive, symbolic nature of the work.
Tags
romance · historical fiction · Gothic · spirituality · mysticism · supernatural · prophetic · visionary · psychological · introspective · revelatory · symbolism