A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
In case you missed it, last week was a special "Mary Week." We celebrated Our Lady's birthday on Monday September 8th, and the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday, September 15th - two feasts that this year served as "bookends" to the work week.
With it's typical genius, the Liturgical Calendar celebrates Mary's birthday exactly nine months after the December 8th feast of her Immaculate Conception. (And you've of course noticed that Christmas Day, the birth of Our Lord, falls exactly nine months after the feast of the Annunciation, right?)
Fortunately I was able to attend Mass on both our Lady's birthday and the celebration of her Holy Name. Plus I was aware of the two feasts, since I generally check my liturgical calendar each morning. It's a good habit to develop and makes each day especially "Catholic."
We recently wrote about the "Straight Shot to Christmas," which encompasses the days between Labor Day and Christmas. When I posted that, I hadn't even considered these two special feasts which fall towards the beginning of the "Straight Shot." But how appropriate that we honor Mary twice in the space of five days as the first inklings of the Incarnation take root in our minds and hearts.
Observing the Lord's Day today, as we take our rest before the commencement of the work week, having Our Lady in mind in this special way provides a unique refreshment of body, mind, and soul. In that light, we present a version of "Immaculate Mary" that we've posted before. The lyrics are different than the ones we typically sing here in the U.S. And all the lyrics of this British version are included, which means you'll need to set aside seven minutes or so to listen. But this being the Lord's Day, you should have the time, and if not, just make the time. Every single verse will fill you with a true "sensus Catholicus," something so sadly missing in our world these days.
Oh, and something I learned about this beautiful hymn is that the melody apparently derives from one a Pyraneean hymn, the area where Lourdes is located.
Ave Maria.
With it's typical genius, the Liturgical Calendar celebrates Mary's birthday exactly nine months after the December 8th feast of her Immaculate Conception. (And you've of course noticed that Christmas Day, the birth of Our Lord, falls exactly nine months after the feast of the Annunciation, right?)
Fortunately I was able to attend Mass on both our Lady's birthday and the celebration of her Holy Name. Plus I was aware of the two feasts, since I generally check my liturgical calendar each morning. It's a good habit to develop and makes each day especially "Catholic."
We recently wrote about the "Straight Shot to Christmas," which encompasses the days between Labor Day and Christmas. When I posted that, I hadn't even considered these two special feasts which fall towards the beginning of the "Straight Shot." But how appropriate that we honor Mary twice in the space of five days as the first inklings of the Incarnation take root in our minds and hearts.
Observing the Lord's Day today, as we take our rest before the commencement of the work week, having Our Lady in mind in this special way provides a unique refreshment of body, mind, and soul. In that light, we present a version of "Immaculate Mary" that we've posted before. The lyrics are different than the ones we typically sing here in the U.S. And all the lyrics of this British version are included, which means you'll need to set aside seven minutes or so to listen. But this being the Lord's Day, you should have the time, and if not, just make the time. Every single verse will fill you with a true "sensus Catholicus," something so sadly missing in our world these days.
Oh, and something I learned about this beautiful hymn is that the melody apparently derives from one a Pyraneean hymn, the area where Lourdes is located.
Ave Maria.
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