Ad Jesum per te, Maria : 8/33

 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 95

Previous Psalms

Psalm 8        Psalm 18        Psalm 23         Psalm 44

Psalm 45      Psalm 86        Psalm 94     

👈 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, the Stars and the Magi

 

For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers: the moon and the stars which thou hast founded. [Psalm viii. 4]

In the previous post, we considered the stars on Mary's maphorion (shawl) in the context of the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks in the pastures near Bethlehem. They received the tidings of great joy from an angel and then a multitude of the heavenly army appeared like stars without number in the night sky, praising God, and singing: Glory to God in the highest.

Today we reflect on the star which led the three Magi to the Christ Child at Bethlehem:

behold the star which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was.  And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. [Matt. ii. 9-10]

On the icon, it may not be too fanciful to read the first of the stars as being the one the Magi saw first in the east. The second one, which is over the Christ Child, represents the final position of the star as it came and stood over where the child was.

Appropriately did a star lead the three royal Magi to Christ, the King of kings, for a star has the appearance of a kingly crown, with its resplendent rays; and therefore a star is an emblem of a king and a kingdom. Whence God promises to Abraham (Gen. xv. 5), saying, “Look up to heaven and number the stars, if thou canst. And he said to him: So shall thy seed be.” Here, amongst other things, He designated the kings of Israel and Judah, who should spring from Abraham, but especially Christ the King.

Allegorically, Christ is “the bright and morning star..” (Apoc. xxii.16.) Whence S. Ambrose saith, “Christ is the star: for a Star shall rise out of Jacob, and a man come forth of Israel.” (Vulg.) In fine, where Christ is, there is the star. For He is the bright and morning star: therefore doth He make Himself known by His own light.

Again, the star of the sea, that is, of this storm-tossed world, who shows us thereby the way, and goes before us to the harbour of safety, is the Blessed Virgin, whence her name Mary. The Hebrew Mariam means teacher, or mistress, or guide of the sea. “Behold the star, invoke Mary,” says S. Bernard. Hence, also, the Church invokes her, saying, “Hail, star of the sea, bounteous Mother of God.”

 

... the star invites and calls us to heaven, that, by means of a heavenly life, we may come to the most blessed company of the angels and all the heavenly citizens. [Excerpts taken from The Great Commentary Of Cornelius À Lapide: 1567-1637]

As we contemplate the icon, let us follow closely the Magi and their example:

And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored Him; [Matt. ii. 11]

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Finally, let us offer our heartfelt petition to the  Holy Family:

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony. 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. 

 

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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.