The Psalms of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Previous Psalms
👈 Taken from a book of hours, this is an image of King David, author of the Psalms, by Willem Vrelant (early 1460s), Bruges, Belgium.
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The following prayers follow the model for consecration written by St Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort and are recited in preparation for the renewal of our family's consecration to Lord Jesus, Christ our King, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Feast of the Annunciation.
Veni Creator Spiritus
Ave Maris Stella
Magnificat
Gloria
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The Vladimirskaya Icon. >12th century.
I have for some time been closing my posts with a triple seal:
* the beautiful icon of the Holy Mother of God known to many as the Vladimirskaya Icon;
* the Sub tuum præsidium, said to be the oldest prayer to Our Lady; and
* a short prayer of consecration to the Immaculate heart of Mary.
Over the coming weeks, I shall include a short commentary on one or other of these prayers, (recalling that holy icons are traditionally said to be written like prayers rather than painted).
The Vladimirskaya Icon : Mary kept all these words in her heart.
The icon is remarkable on numerous levels, but perhaps one of the most striking is found in the expressive silence communicated by the image.
The benefits of silence are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament Scriptures, as in the following examples:
In the multitude of words there shall not want sin: but he that refraineth his lips is most wise. [Proverbs x. 19]
He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.[Proverbs xxi. 23]
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips. [Psalm cxli. 3]
Taking into account the central role of the Holy Theotokos in salvation history, it is noteworthy that there are only four incidents in the Gospel where her words are recorded:
‣ The Annunciation: And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? [Luke i. 34] And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. [Luke i. 38]
‣ The Magnificat [Luke i. 46-55]
‣ When Mary lost Jesus she found Him on the third day in the Temple and said to Him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. [Luke ii. 48]
‣ The marriage at Cana: Having told her Son that the wine had run out, she then tells the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.
Here are three examples where the evangelist records Mary's silence in response to words spoken to her.
⮚ Firstly, when Gabriel came to see her and uttered his greeting, using words which were to become part of the prayer uttered by Christians throughout the centuries:
And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. [Luke i. 28-9]
Mary did not at first respond but stayed silent; she felt troubled in her heart by his words and wondered what this greeting could mean.
⮚ The next occasion is Mary's reaction to the arrival of the shepherds, who following the announcement to them that this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David, came to look for an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. St Luke records simply :
But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. [Luke ii. 19]
⮚ Finally, when Mary (with Joseph) found her missing Son in the Temple and He said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father's business? — her reaction is recorded by St Luke:
And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. [Luke ii. 50-51]
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Let us ask our Heavenly Mother to help us learn from her example by keeping the words of Christ's teaching in our hearts, pondering them and translating them into action. Let us pray too for her Divine Son's grace to measure our words with prudence and, above all, charity, recalling the words of St Paul the Apostle:
If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. [1 Corinthians xiii. 1]
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SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen.
WE fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers always Glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
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