Loving mother of the Redeemer,
gate of heaven, star of the sea,
assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again,
To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,
yet remained a virgin after as before,
You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,
have pity on us poor sinners.∗
∗Mahoney, D.D., James P. (1975). The Liturgy of the Hours. Catholic Book Publishing Corp. p. 1189.
Origin: 11th Century. Hermannus Contractus (also known as Herman the Cripple) 1013–1054, was a scholar, composer, music theorist, mathematician, and astronomer.
He authored the hymn based on the writings of Saints Fulgentius, Epiphanius, and Irenaeus of Lyon. He also wrote the sublime well-known hymn, Salve Regina.
ABOVE: Tempi Madonna by Raffaello Sanzio – Alte Pinakothek – Munich
Reflecting on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th
As I contemplate the birth of our most Blessed Lady, Mama Mary, Queen of Heaven, the New Eve, Mother of Christ, Mother to us all, I marvel at God’s gift to us through Mary’s entrance into our fallen world, full of grace, an ever-present, never-surpassed-model of true femininity and servanthood in her simple and complete surrender of herself in her unblemished love for God. Love. What is true love? The giving of oneself for another — it is a mission that I, like Mary, was called to undertake at the very inception of my title as Mother — as I gave my body for another, that new life forming within, once completely dependent, thoroughly needy in the direst of needs, for the very breath of life that powered each day. Now, I am continuously called to give my body for another, the same life that once formed within, now forms without, learning to be independent, still often VERY needy in the most obvious of basic (and not-so-basic) needs. I contemplate how my breath of life powers my barefoot blessing‘s day . . .