Saturday, March 25, 2017

It's Lady Day!

Technically, today's feast is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. In English tradition, however, it was known as "Lady Day" (as in "Our Lady's Day"). I kind of like that. Everything hinged that day on Mary. St Bernard put it fabulously:
Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word.
Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the Desired of all Nations is at your door, knocking to enter....


Right on time, our Sister Laura Rosemarie completed the work on her Annunciation (part of a series she is doing of the Mysteries of the Rosary) and put the canvas on display outside of chapel. Mary is under a fig tree, a place of contemplation and peace, with a scroll in her hand and lilies of the valley just behind her. (For your listening pleasure, here is a fitting song with which you can reflect on today's Gospel of the Annunciation: https://play.spotify.com/track/2tRQcpXpIh0jz41lATxrsq)

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