O Heavenly Mother

 

Painting: Cesare Da Sesto, Madonna and Child with the Lamb of God

The Final Battle

If We Only Knew

In Wordless Infancy

'He was created of a mother whom He created. 

He was carried by hands that he formed. 

He cried in the manger in wordless infancy. 

He, the Word, without Whom all human eloquence is mute.'

St. Augustine

Painting: Marianne Stokes

For Our Sakes, He

       

                   'He so loved us that for our sakes, He
                   through Whom time was made, was made in time...
                   He Who made man, was made man.
                   He was given existence by a mother whom He had brought into existence.'

St. Augustine

Painting: Alice Havers, 'But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart'

Like a Secret Told by Angels

"Like a secret  
told by angels, 
getting known 
upon the earth,  
is the 
Mother's expectation
of Messiah's 
speedy birth." 

F. Faber








Painting: Antonello da Messina






 

Feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother

Fra Angelico, The Coronation of the Virgin

Feast of the Visitation

A Mother's Heart

'A mother's heart 
is always full of pity 
for the erring 
and the sinner 
and the fallen.'  

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen




















Painting:  Madonna, Herman Richir; 
in US public domain due to age

No Way to Catch in Words

'There is no way to catch in words the sublime things of God.'

St. John of the Cross

Painting:  George Hitchcock, Annunciation, 1887; in US public domain due to age

A Perfect Temple

'Blessed is He 
Who dwelt in the womb,
and wrought within it 
a perfect Temple
so that He might dwell in it,
a Throne 
so that He might be seated in it, 
a Garment 
so that He might be arrayed in it, 
and a Weapon 
so that He might conquer through it!'

St. Ephraem the Syrian









A hat tip to Melanie at the Association of Catholic Women Bloggers, where I found this painting.  Original source unknown.

Behold, He is Coming

Be

'Like a secret told by angels,

 getting known upon the earth,  

is the Mother's expectation

of Messiah's speedy birth.'

 

(F. Faber, "Our Lady's Expectations")  


Painting:  Arthur Joseph Gaskin, Annnciation

My Visitations

I often reflect upon Mary's visitation to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56).  I think about the fact that the original scene probably attracted little attention from observers.  Two women, two relatives, greeted one another.  It was something that happened all the time.   

No one watching would have shouted out: "Quick!  Come see!   Here's a scene that will be written about in the Bible!"  

Mary visited Elizabeth because both had first BEEN Visited - Mary in a totally unique way, of course.  She came to Elizabeth carrying God Himself within her.  

What particularly strikes me is that while I do not carry Jesus in the same way Mary did, I can indeed carry Him in my heart. 

“Perhaps you yourselves do not realize that Christ Jesus is in you..” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

"We may well tremble to think what sanctuaries we are, when the Blessed Sacrament is within us."  (Frederick William Faber)  

Imagine.  The Lord of the universe within us, within me.  Imagine.  

And I have the opportunity to "carry Him" to everyone I meet. 

What might happen if I make a conscious effort to go through today "on visitation?"

What if I first visit the Lord in prayer, and then specifically visit every person I encounter with the love of Christ?  This does not mean I have to say or do anything that will draw attention.  It may mean that I pray a silent aspiration for the letter-carrier, smile at a harried store clerk, relate to family members with patience.  I might write a note of encouragement, call a lonely relative.

My visitations will be simple and unnoticed.   

But as I carry the love of Christ to those around me, I have a feeling that all of heaven will rejoice.

Painting:  La Visitation, James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum

Portions of the above were previously posted on The Cloistered Heart blog in 2012.

This post is linked to Catholic Bloggers Network Linkup Blitz 

How to Begin the Year

'We must begin the year with Christ and His holy mother.  So today, with all the affection I can muster, I have recourse to the Son and the mother:  O Jesus, fill our hearts with Your divine Name, so that Your gentle kindness may influence all our senses and perfume all our actions.  O glorious Name, which the mouth of the Divine Father pronounced from all eternity, be ever written in our souls.'                                            (St. Francis de Sales)

'In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God's presence, and the Word was God.'
                                                                                    (John 1:1)

Painting: Nativity, Edward Burne-Jones

This post is linked to Catholic Bloggers Network 2013 Monthly Link Up Blitz 

Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
My spirit finds joy in God my Savior,
For He has looked upon His servant in her lowliness;
All ages to come shall call me blessed.

God Who is mighty has done great things for me,
holy is His Name:
His mercy is from age to age on those who fear Him.
 
He has shown might with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has deposed the mighty from their thrones,
and raised the lowly to high places.
The hungry He has given every good thing,
while the rich He has sent away empty. 
He has upheld Israel His servant,
ever mindful of His mercy.
Even as He promised our fathers,
promised Abraham and his descendants forever.
                                     (Mary's Magnificat; Luke 1:46-55)