BVM

There are all sorts of logical and even theological reasons why devotion to the Blessed virgin Mary makes no sense whatsoever – but then there are all sorts of reasons why it does. I could argue quite convincingly, I think, against any sort of elevation of Mary in the Christian tradition – but, quite honestly, that is just not where my heart or experience of God is.

Today is the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary – although as it is the middle of summer in this middle of the road church I will probably manage to use the alternate date on 8th September as well. Our parish does not have any guilds or pilgrimages to Walsingham – there is little language of Mary publicly spoken and the Angelus would have a lot of people scuttling for cover – but in the Lady Chapel is an icon of Mary and a blue light burns happily, sometimes joined by various votive lights from the candle stand which sits in front of her.

For me, increasingly, argument and debate are not the place to be when it comes to Mary – personally when I kneel in that chapel and recite the well worn Marian prayers it feels real and it make sense – and whilst neither of these are good judges of spiritual practice short term – this is a lifelong experience for me – that praying with Mary, asking intercession of Mary, makes sense.

One of the major arguments about devotion to Mary is that it detracts from devotion to the source of our life and being, Jesus Christ. I suspect this may be some folks experience, but it is not mine. Mary gives both another aspect and a context to my prayers – I have no thought of her as the salvatrix but simply as someone who walked the path of faith and in a very special way.

On the other side of the same chapel is another candle, this time white and burning above the place of the Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament. That is where I tend to head before services, to ask God to surround and fill me. There is a certain balance between the two places – and that is important for me. I miss it when it is not there. There seems to be space for both.

I know all of this makes little sense to some – if I had no Church or place, of course I could still talk to God – but it helps, it makes sense and, most importantly, I am drawn closer to God through these Holy Places.

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee

Blessed art thou 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.