Topic

The Madonna in Sorrow, by Sassoferrato, 17th century

HALE AND HEARTY MARY, QUEEN OF HEAVEN

Hail Holy Mary, Mother of God,

As a child I prayed to you
at our classroom May Altar
where your stood in plaster, gilt-crowned,
robed in in white with a soft blue cape,
edged and girded in gold,
elegant and somewhat intimidating
but you were surrounded by fresh flowers
carried to school by loving children.

I prayed to you, too,
at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where you stood far above
the altar in the uppermost niche,
gilded, and adorned, distant and heavenly
with a halo of electric lights.

Each May at Saint Mary College
you were accompanied in procession
across the rolling greensward of the campus
by three hundred solemn students
in lacey white dresses
carrying on their shoulders
grand long garlands woven of greenery
gemmed with fresh spring flowers.

(The photo is from a much earlier time, at Vassar.)

The sentiments of the hymns that were sung
are still resonant today:

Bring flowers of the fairest
Bring flowers of the rarest
From garden and woodland
And hillside and vale
Our full hearts are swelling
Our glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest Rose of the May.

O Mary! We crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.

The teen-aged Bernadette Soubirous reported that
in the apparitions to her
at Lourdes, France in 1858, Mary wore "a lovely white dress with a bright belt,
and a pale yellow rose
on one of her feet
matching the color
of the rosary beads she carried."

During the Lenten season each year
my family prayed the rosary nightly to you,
in a darkened bedroom:
my father and mother, my two brothers and I,
all on bended knees,
reverencing you, Mother of Sorrows
in our hushed confidence.

Theologians of differing sects
argue over your rightful place and legacy:
your virginity after Christ's birth,
your role in the divine plan
and your rightful place in the heavenly court.

In view of the controversy over your role,
a wise wag once remarked to me:

"Mary, that simple humble,
virtuous young woman,
must be the most embarrassed soul in heaven
to have caused such theological commotion
and contentious consternation."

A jokey bon mot, with a kernel of wisdom.

It made me rethink of you
not just as the Queen of Heaven
but as the simple virgin
of unique purity who became
the Mother of Jesus.

Now, in my maturity, suddenly,
you have come to me
not as a plaster figure in a remote niche,
not as you came to Bernadette,
ethereal in gossamer white
with yellow roses, but in a whole new
and surprising spiritual light.

I feel that you have come suddenly,
very close to me, vibrant and immediate
not standing pale and distant, like a queen
garbed in courtly robes and crowned,
but rather as a precious mother,
near and living, hale and hearty,
practical, decisive and active.

I see you as a confident woman
given to Semitic humor, joyous laughter
and rich outgoing love, feeding and bathing
a Child, happy with a mystery
which you cannot wholly understand,
but completely,totally trusting
in the Word of God.

I see you as an assured Jewish woman
with sun-burnished copper skin, black hair,
and warm, flashing, understanding eyes.

I see you as did the artist,
robed in red with a cloak of rich dark blue
and a mantle of tan.

I feel you close to me, Mary,
and human, even laughing,
reassuring, calming, motherly s
oft but strong, humble but self-assured.

I see you as the Mother of God.

I feel your benevolence.
I feel your confidence.
I feel your closeness.
I feel your guidance.
I feel your concern.
I feel your wisdom.
I feel your verve.
I feel your love.

I want to know you better now!
I want please you more!

I want to understand more deeply
the mystery of Godhead and humanity
miraculously met eternally
in you our mother.

I want to be your child,
to hear your voice in my head,
to follow the maternal advice
and the salvation hope which you give to me.

Please guide me, accept me and protect me,
Holy Mary, Maris Stella,
Virgin Mother and Queen of the Stars.

Please hear my pleas, and carry my prayers
to the ear of your Divine Son,
Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Amen