Thursday, December 02, 2010

Our Daily Mary: Day 2


The Virgin Mary every day from  December 1-12th.  Rebecca is hosting this meme.Thanks, Rebecca! If you want to join in, go to her blog and post your link.


Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

From Wikipedia (the Roman Catholic version of the Virgin Mary):

Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a woman.[7] The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honor as Mother of God. From the Council of Ephesus in 431, which dogmatized this belief, to Vatican II and Pope John Paul II's Redemptoris Mater encyclical the Virgin Mary has come to be seen, not only as the Mother of God but also as the Mother of the Church.
The key role of the Virgin Mary in Roman Catholic beliefs, her veneration, and the growth of Roman Catholic Mariology have not only come about by official statements made in Rome but have often been driven from the ground up, by the Marian writings of the saints and from the masses of believers, and at times via reported Marian apparitions to young and simple children on remote hilltops, which have then influenced the higher levels of the Holy See via sensus fidei. The Holy See continues to approve of Marian apparitions on remote mountains, the latest approval being as recent as May 2008.[8][9] Some apparitions such as Fatima have given rise to Marian Movements and Societies with millions of members, and many other Marian societies exist around the world.[10]

I find all this fascinating. I also find it very fascinating that those who are not Catholic embrace a form of Marionism by way of venerating (through display of images) of the Lady of Guadalupe. Why is it that even those who are not of the faith venerate her? I am always fascinated by this and wonder why. I don't have any answers, but I wonder why and at the same time, think it is pretty darned cool! And, perhaps the word, 'veneration' doesn't suit you, that's OK. It's just that no other descriptive words came to mind here.

 








8 comments:

rebecca said...

i love this mary offering. the moss on her robes seemingly earth spattered. even the dark roses on first glance look like dark earth.
somehow the holiness of her mixed up in all that dark earth makes her accessible in each new moment.

i cannot answer your question....i can just say the power and presence of mary permeates the very air i breath. i am drawn to her and have been even as a young child before language.
but then everyone is moved by beauty, regardless of beliefs, ancestry,or understanding.

thank you for this....i am filled yet again by her beauty!

Anonymous said...

I loved this post. It takes me back to the old days when I was a devout Catholic. I no longer go to mass, but still feel the pull of religion now and then.

Meri said...

I suspect it's because everyone has a mother (or had at some point). Everyone longs for perfect love and acceptance of themselves, just because they exist. The idealization of Mary created by the Church, the statues with enigmatic faces that we can interpret as we choose, all provide a canvas for us to paint an all-loving, all-accepting Mother.

turquoise cro said...

MARY is the answer!!!

deb did it said...

Marys all around...Saints, Angels and Virgins....they simply bring me comfort and joy...no questions, no explanations..so I am going with it...I agree with you..."pretty darn cool"

foxysue said...

Hi Paula,

I hadn't thought too much about this subject, here in the UK if you are not of the Catholic faith, Mary is just there. Now she has come sharply into focus I can see more clearly why she has so many devotees!

Sue x

BTW The word verification is
Wing-rase!

Noelle Clearwater said...

It is a beautiful statue of Our Lady, befitting the prayer venerating her. I said it many times as a child. I am not a practicing Catholic any longer, but I respect your love for her and find her struggle, her compassion and her final sacrifice the essence of motherly love. I just came from visiting Santa Fe in October. My family lives there. I saw that you are from N.M.
Noelle

Anonymous said...

Ah, a very beautiful Mary, I assume hand-made by you. Do you sell your things on the Internet? If so, post the address, pretty please.

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