Category Archives: Mary Most Holy

The Blessed Virgin at the Foot of the Cross

Engaging with, surrendering to, and understanding, if we can, the mystery of suffering in our lives, and in the lives of others, has always provided a challenge, and even a challenge too far, for the compassionate human being.  Perhaps it is the experience which most speaks to us about our frail humanity, in all its myriad dimensions, from the sheer and immediately physical to the often and tragically hidden aspects of our interior life…

Holy Mary, Mother of God

Continuing our reflections on the collection of votive Masses dedicated to the example of Our Lady, we turn to her celebration as Mother of God.  The Mass begins by reminding us that it is the Father’s will that his Son take flesh in Mary’s womb, and that Mary welcomes this mystery of our redemption.  St Bernard emphasises the union of Mary’s virginity and humility: Had Mary not been humble, the Holy Spirit would not have rested upon her.  Had he not rested upon her, she would not have become pregnant.  The moment of Incarnation holds within it the promise and presence of saving Word and Bread of Life…

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Old and New Unite

In the entries which we will offer over the next while, we will begin to survey the rich texts composed for the votive Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In this post we will give special attention to some of the splendid prayers for the Visitation.  Although we already have the feast day – 31stContinue reading “The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Old and New Unite”

Mary, Liturgy in Action

As we continue to explore Mary’s role in the prayer and worship of the People of God we are faced with an inevitable question – what is liturgy? What function does it have and how does it express the essential attitude of the People of God? Why, at the heart of all, must the Christian be a liturgical being, and the being of the Church an unending liturgical action?

Mary, Teacher in the Liturgy

“We fly to your protection, Holy Mother of God.  Do not despise the petitions we offer you in our need, but deliver us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin”. This short and easily memorised prayer – the Sub Tuum Praesidium, to give it its Latin title – is the earliest known prayer directed specifically to the Blessed Virgin. First found in third century texts, it places before us the incontrovertible fact that early Christians must have been in the habit of weaving Mary into their prayer, perhaps both private and common…

Invoking Mary – The Litany of Loreto

Recourse to Mary through the centuries began in the post-apostolic age.  The most ancient prayer which we know – the Sub Tuum Praesidium – seeks refuge under Mary’s protection.  Over time, as devotion to God’s Mother – the Church confirmed her as Theotokos, God Bearer, Mother of God, at the Council of Ephesus in 431Continue reading “Invoking Mary – The Litany of Loreto”

The Mysteries of Light – Lectio With Mary

With these words of Blessed Bartolo Longo, the apostle of the Rosary, Pope Saint John Paul II ended his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae (The Rosary of the Virgin Mary) (2002), a meditation both personal and ecclesial – it marked the beginning of the 25th year of his pontificate and also opened…

Inviting Participation in the Veneration of the Mother of God

For the early Cistercians, meditation on the person, name, vocation and example of Mary occupied a central place in their developing spirituality and theology, and it can be rightly said that they were the first to consider the Mother of God in herself rather than as a vehicle for further development of Christology and ecclesiology, theological reflection about Christ and theological reflection about the Church.