WoW Happy Birthday Mary!
This post below is rather intense. I originally posted it and later in the day received an email from the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal, not about my post, dear Lord, but about their Celebration of Mary’s Birthday. Their letter was quite Joyous and Prayerful. It reminded me that Birthdays are meant to be celebrated! So I had previously purchased this digital picture of an actual, “…watercolor painting restoration of a famous oil painting of “The Polish Madonna” by Stachiewi.” that I thought was joyous, almost whimsical in it’s color pallete, prophetic so what, and very beautiful and warm. From what I can tell this restoration conjures up for me a strong sense of the Joys of motherhood and being about ones work in life lovingly, even more so than the original. The old original image is in the public domain, and low quality copies, are being sold online! This image is a newly created /restored water color of the original, “Polish Madonna,” by an artist I found on Etsy, Leanne Bowen. It is absolutely beautiful and delightfully done. I have not communicated with Leanne about this Posting until just a bit ago, but please look her up and read about her personal devotion to our Blessed Mother. I hope that her testaments and reflections about Mary bring you as much Joy and inspiration, as they bring to me.
Can’t you just imagine Mary doing the Laundry, while Jesus plays with a cross no less, next to her, on her Birthday morning ! But then a woman’s work, or man’s for that matter, is never quite done. Happy Birthday Blessed Mother! Thank you Leanne for this beautiful and endearing restoration! Hope your work continues to inspire many to Mary’s virtues. Mary to Jesus Blogger
Artist is LeanneBowenFineArt
The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is celebrated Sept. 8, and begins a little “Octave of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, which concludes with The Memorial Of Our Lady of Sorrows on Sept. 15.
During this “little octave” we also celebrate the Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary on September 12th and on September 14th we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Make these feasts and commemorative days an opportunity to learn more about Mary’s 7 Sorrows & 7 Joys, a foundation for the Brigittine Rosary. Learn more about the Brigittine Rosary here and then learn about additional rosary devotions in my Rosary Commentary Post. Learn about the 7 Sorrows and 7 Joys by clicking the link below.
The Seven Sorrows & Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary – The Fathers of Mercy
The Seven Sorrows & Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary – The Fathers of Mercy
Learn about and how to pray the Brigittine Rosary here!
Please take a moment to reflect on the paintings below that recognize these Feasts and Commemorative Days.
September 8, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This image celebrates the Nativity of Mary, by reminding us about her education growing-up. Although St. Anne likely entrusted Mary’s primary education to the Temple’s Hebrew teachers at a very early age, where she lived with many other young girls, we can still picture St. Anne being her primary teacher! Celebrate the Nativity of Mary, by reflecting on her early life!
Vintage painting by Giovanni Romanelli, Education of the Virgin, circa 1630’s, digitally enhanced for image clarity and color.
September 12, Most Holy Name of Mary Source
The name Mary is rooted in various ancient languages: in Hebrew Myriam; in Aramaic Maryam; in the Greek Old Testament, Mariam; and in Greek and Latin New Testament, Maria.
Modern philological studies of ancient Egyptian suggest that Mary means “lady, beautiful one, or well-beloved.” Some scholars of Ugaritic texts (ancient Syrian) suggest the name mrym derives from the verb rwn, thereby rendering the meaning of “high, lofy, exalted, or august.” These root meanings fit well with the message of the Archangel Gabriel: “Hail, Mary, full of grace [or Rejoice, O highly favored daughter]! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women” (Luke 1:28).
Mary’s Holy Name, Why?
Mary is the Mother of our Divine Savior, Mary is Holy as she is “full of Grace,”, Mary is our Mother, who our Lord gave to us when he was dying on the cross, and finally Mary will respond and protect all of us from evil and prays for us in the hour of our death, therefore universally worthy of being honored. Why do I associate the RL George picture with this Feast? Well she’s considered our Lady of Grace, of Medjugorje, and she really speaks to me and has a fantastic name, Lady of Grace! What’s not to like:-) Fiat!
Blessed Virgin of Medjugorje, artistic rendering, RL George Studio
September 14, Exaltation of the Holy Cross
The Story of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
In the fourth century, St. Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, had the Temple of Aphrodite razed as she searched for holy places from Christ’s life. The temple was believed to be built over Christ’s tomb. Workers found 3 crosses, one of which healed a dying woman when touched. St. Helena had her son build the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher on the place where the cross was found.
The cross immediately became an object of veneration in Jerusalem, and was shown publicly especially on Good Friday. To this day churches celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the September anniversary of the basillca’s dedication. There is an interesting and humbling story about the Emperor Heraclius who had it restored from the Persians in 629 you can read on the Franciscan Media Saints Page here.
Reflection
The Cross is an image of Christian belief in Salvation, and an image adorned in paintings and jewelry. However for the early Christians it stood outside the city decorated with corpses to serve as a deterrence to all who would contemplate defying the Roman authority and veneration to their Gods. People could not openly venerate the Cross or practice their Christian faith until Constantine issued his Edict of Toleration in 311CE. * To me the physical Cross is a reminder of Jesus’s love for each of us and that we would always be willing to wear His cross publicly regardless of its’ political favor.
*311 CE – The Edict of Toleration by Galerius was issued in 311 by the Roman Tetrarchy of Galerius, Constantine and Licinius, officially ending the Diocletian persecution of Christianity. 313 – Roman Emperors Constantine I and Licinius issued the Edict of Milan that legalized Christianity across the whole Empire. Source
“Exaltation of Holy Cross”,jozef sedmak / Alamy, BARI, ITALY – MARCH 5, 2022: The painting of Exaltation of Holy Cross in the church Chiesa, di Santa Croce by unknown painter of Veronese school.License details, Image use Commercial electronic, Details of use Website, app and social media, Start date 13 November 2022, Duration In perpetuity, Country Worldwide, Additional details Use in a single website, app, social media or blog (excludes advertising), worldwide.
September 15, The Memorial Of Our Lady of Sorrows
Digital Oil Painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Mater Dolorosa – Our Lady of Seven Sorrows
More about Mary’s Seven Sorrows! Here: Mary promised one of the Kibeho visionaries, “If you say the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows and meditate on it well, you will find the strength you need to repent of your sins and convert your heart. Pray my Seven Sorrows to find repentance.” Source
Keep a simple focus: Prayer Penance Eucharist
As my blog site journey continues, I have started to get overwhelmed by the volume of topics, media and authors that are available throughout the world in this digital age of the internet, just on these 3 topics alone. That is why I recently revamped the blog site, to put these 3 focusses front and center, at the top of the home page. (click on the link to see!) I would like to continue to share my experiences that I believe enhance these priorities and deepen my faith, in the hopes that they do the same for someone else. As I do so, I remind myself that while Catholic Christian reading, writing and consuming media are laudable endeavors, they should only be done AFTER I have scheduled time to focus on theses 3 practices, every day in my own life. At the beginning of every rosary the Daughters of Mary pray that the rosary be said with Humility, Attention and Devotion, “just as if it were to be the last of my life!.” Please enjoy everyday that God has given you, but make room for Jesus and Mary , everyday, for you are Blessed and so-so Loved! Fiat!
Thank you for viewing my post and Go with the Lord today! Fiat!
Fiat!