May is the month of Mary. During their Reflection Day this week our Year 8 students spent some time walking around the school looking at some of the different statues and paintings we have of the Blessed Virgin. Looking at the different images, the students were able to reflect on some of the attributes of Mary that the different artists or sculptors were seeking to communicate: Mary’s serenity, her openness to God, her life of prayer, her strength, her motherhood. Different images communicate different aspects of the person and life of Mary.
At the end of the day the Year 8 students congregated in the chapel and together we prayed The Angelus. The Angelus is a traditional prayer, often prayed three times a day (6.00am, 12.00 midday and 6.00pm) and in some churches signalled by the ringing of the Angelus bell. The Angelus reminds us that the reason we have statues and images of Mary is that Mary was the Mother of God; the person of Mary cannot be separated from her calling to bring Jesus into the world in human form.
The Angelus begins:
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Be it done unto me according to thy word.
And the word was made flesh.
And dwelt amongst us.
After each of these three statements the Hail Mary is prayed:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Notre Dame, Mary, who said ‘Yes’ to God and who bore Jesus in her womb, pray for us.
