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Thursday, May 2, 2013

Crowning Mary

In medieval religious writings, the soul is often described as a garden.  And a rose garden is one of the most beautiful.  Roses are often weaved into a garland and placed on Mary's head.  "Bring flowers of the rarest" is a traditional song for crowning Mary.

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

Many saints had visions of Mary with flowers.  St. Louis de Montfort thinks a garden dedicated to Mary symbolizes the Garden of Eden.  St. Francis tells of a novice who found himself in a room bathed in a heavenly light facing Our Lady with two angels.  Beautiful roses burst from his mouth as he prayed Hail Mary.  And the angels picked them up and made a crown to place on Mary's head.  

Repetition of a single prayer as a background to meditation has been practiced as a centering technique, for a long time.  From the thirteenth century the Rosary has been prayed, ever since Dominic had a vision of Mary, and ever since preached the Rosary for the rest of his life.  Our Lady appeared to Dominic and prayed with him.

Heaven was opened for him to see and the whole heavenly court was assembled in magnificent array.  He heard them sing the rosary in an enchanting melody and each decade was in honor of the life, passion and glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother.  He noticed that whenever they said the sacred name of Mary they bowed their head and at the name of Jesus they genuflected and gave thanks to God for the great good that He had wrought in Heaven and on earth through the Rosary, which the confraternity members say here on earth.  He noticed too that they were praying too for those who practiced this devotion.  He also saw beautiful crowns without number, which were made of gorgeous flowers held in readiness for those who pray the Rosary devoutly.  He learned that by every rosary that people pray, they make a crown for themselves, which they will be able to wear in heaven.

When I read this in Andrea Oliva Florendo's The Liturgy of  Flowers in a Mary Garden, I couldn't help but think of my own poor praying habits.  I certainly hope intention and perseverance earn a crown, because my praying too, too often, isn't prayed very devoutly.  I keep trying.  I'm a saint in the making.

Galilean Fish Broil

BIBLICALLY BROILED FISH This Lenten recipe comes from “A Continual Feast.”  Note the beautiful story of Jesus appearing to the apostles on t...