When I was about eight years old my mother (brought up a Catholic) gathered our family and asked us to pray for a friend who was very seriously ill. She then said the Salve Regina – Hail, Holy Queen – with us. This made an enormous impression at that time, so much so I can still picture the event. I suspect the impression was even greater than I realise, for in my prayers and personal spiritual life turning to Mary has played a significant part, not least following an intense spiritual experience when studying at Cambridge. I give great thanks for this.
“Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.” Is a simple prayer of Mother Teresa which has comforted me. It is, of course, a deeply felt personal and private prayer, and so much the better for that.
Through my Christian life I have been nourished by the Catholic tradition, both Roman and Anglican, and the place of Our Lady in my prayer life and faith means much to me. I was reflecting on this as I Iook forward to the great Feast of the Assumption on August 15th. I also reflected how Anglo Catholic and Roman Catholic expressions of Marian devotion differ.
Looking back, I suspect very few Anglican or even Anglo Catholic mothers would draw their family together to pray the Salve Regina at a time of difficulty. Anglican devotion to Mary, where it exists, is usually priest led, and not domestic. It is also traditional and conservative in nature. Much Anglo Catholic devotion to Our Lady seems to involve ornate staues of Mary flanked by long candles, sweet incense and male priests in rich vestments singing old fashioned hymns.
There is more to honouring Mary than this, and some of it is simple, and everyday. I am inspired by a dear Phillipino friend, who, when his family are in need, pops into a church and lights a candle before a statue of Mary and asks ‘Mama Mary’ to care for his loved ones.
Devotion to Our Lady has much to offer our homes, families and the world, and so I pray that Mary will have a place in the homes of Christian people, as well as in their churches. In these troubled days in the world the example of Mary, the God bearer (Theotokos), who had the experience of being an unmarried mother in Palestine, and then fled the cruel occupying powers seeking refuge in strange lands, speaks much to the people of God today. It is my hope that preaching and encouragement at the Assumption may be ‘earthy and direct’ bringing hope to all, and especially to those today, who like Our Lady are in difficult places of war and authoritarianism.
“We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.”
(The traditional English translation of the Sub Tuum Praesidium (the oldest known prayer to Mary, dating back to the 3rd century))
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