The Psalms of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary
By way of preparation for the great Feast of the Annunciation, I am re-posting a daily commentary on each of the Psalms of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin. The commentary was compiled by Father Ethelred L. Taunton and published in 1903.
To read the commentary on today's Psalm, click on the following link:
👉 Psalm 45
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 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, the Stars and the Incarnation
In the previous post, we considered the links between Our Blessed Mother and the image of the moon, starting with the following verse from the Psalms:
For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers: the moon and the stars which thou hast founded. [Psalm viii. 4]
The reference to the stars in this Psalm also merits consideration since they feature in many icons of the Madonna. Often, there are three and they are commonly understood as referring to Mary's virginity before, during and after the Nativity of her Divine Son, Jesus.
In the Vladimirskaya icon, however, only two stars are visible; the Infant Jesus is either blocking the third star from view or has perhaps in some sense taken the place of the third star. If on one level the stars represent the presence of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, this would be readily intelligible. The first or highest star would stand for God the Father; the Holy Infant Himself is God the Son and the third star is the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Ghost.
This interpretation harmonizes with the words of the Angel Gabriel to the Blessed Mary Ever Virgin at the Annunciation, explaining she was to conceive in her womb, and bring forth a son; and call his name Jesus:
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. [Luke i. 35]
The image reflects the result in body and spirit of Mary's assent to Gabriel's word:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. [Luke i. 37]
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Let us conclude this reflection by offering our adoration, praise and thanks to Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, for His incarnation in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Blessed by Heaven's messenger,
made fruitful by the Holy Ghost,
from her womb came forth
the One longed for by nations.
Beata cæli nuntio,
Fecunda Sancto Spiritu,
Desideratus gentibus
Cujus per alvum fusus est.
[From the hymn Quem Terra, sung during Matins in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary]
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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