Oh, the joys of knowing our Beautiful Mother! It almost makes one wonder if maybe God, in His eternal wisdom, didn't think of us too, when He used Mary to bring Christ into the world. Everyone misses their mother now and again, and Mary is always there, and always longing to have us cling to her neck, as the Child Jesus once did. Under the Blessed Mother's protective mantle we will find comfort and peace, and always find Christ. She is touchable indeed.
Among all the Eastern wall paintings, as large as four storey building, one I admire the most in my Church. It is the Angelic Salutation to the Virgin Mary. It is painted on two (half height) doors, which split in the middle. These doors open in the middle to the left and to the right as the barrier seperating the Alter from the Church seatings. This icon in Particular I enjoy most and it never fails to speak to me. I had an apportunity to write a paper on it for my theological studies, "Iconography" class. The Virgin in my paper, is the door of heaven as in the ladder of Jacob; She is the Bush that never burns on Mount Sinai. I can't help it since as a Melkite Eastern Catholic, multitudes of praises and hymnals are sung to the Virgin. These are among the best written material that is ever ancient, as ancient as St. Basil, and St. John Chrysostom. She is the first fruits vested with the grace of the Holy Spirit as God willed it to be in the begining before the fall, for all the human race. This exact thing that seem to make me wonder at this Salutation with joy; the marriage of the divine and the human. The Virgin is humanity's amabsodor with her Son. Intercede for us Oh Mother of God, for your womb is larger than the universe, because you carried God in your womb.
May I have the pleasure of sharing a song I wrote many years ago, called "Mother Mary" Chorus Mother Mary dearest friend your loving kindness knows no end Reaching out you comfort all and pick us up if we should fall.
If our thoughts we would uncover beleive and trust in you dear mother Our prayers you'll take to your dear son, he'll not refuse not anyone. Repeat chorus
Precious is your love for all you alway's you always hear us when we call Too those in need you turn your face you interceed in every case Repeat chorus.
We pray to you as children must beleive we place our lives in you we trust So many times we've heard you say that we must always pray each day Repeat chorus. Copyright Aidan Scannell-Brian Tyrell. At present only avaible on cassette. my email address is mscannell at sympatico.ca.
December 04, 2003 12:51 AM
