Day 26 – Mary, our refuge

A Reading from the Book of Revelation:

And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. And another sign appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. (Rev 12:1-6)

From Pope Francis’s Homily for a Mass at St Mary Major Basilica for the Translation of the Miraculous Image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani:

The Christian people have understood, from the very beginning, that in difficulties and trials we need to turn to our Mother, as the most ancient Marian hymn has it: Beneath your protection, we seek refuge, O Holy Mother of God; do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.

We seek refuge. Our fathers in faith taught that in turbulent moments we should gather under the mantle of the Holy Mother of God.  At one time those who were persecuted and in need sought refuge with high-ranking noble women: when their cloak, regarded as inviolable, was held out as a sign of welcoming, protection had been granted.  So it is for us with regard to Our Lady, the highest woman of the human race.  Her mantle is always open to receive us and gather us.  The Christian East reminds us of this, where many celebrate the Protection of the Mother of God, who in a beautiful icon is depicted with her mantle sheltering her sons and daughters and covering the whole world.  Monks of old recommended, in times of trial, that we take refuge beneath the mantle of the Holy Mother of God: calling upon her as “Holy Mother of God” was already a guarantee of protection and help, this prayer over and again: “Holy Mother of God”, “Holy Mother of God”… Just like this.

This wisdom, that comes to us from far off, helps us: the Mother protects the faith, safeguards relationships, saves those in storms and preserves them from evil.  Where our Mother is at home, the devil does not enter in.  Where our Mother is at home, the devil does not enter in.  Where our Mother is present, turmoil does not prevail, fear does not conquer.  Which of us does not need this, which of us is not sometimes distressed or anxious?  How often our heart is a stormy sea, where the waves of our problems pile up and the winds of our troubles do not stop blowing!  Mary is our secure ark in the midst of the flood.  It will not be ideas or technology that will give us comfort or hope, but our Mother’s face, her hands that caress our life, her mantle that gives us shelter.  Let us learn how to find refuge, going each day to our Mother.

Reflection:

Mary’s mantle is another image for her womb. We are invited to stay under the mantle of Mary, in the womb of Mary. “Where our Mother is at home, the devil does not enter in…fear does not conquer.” Our Mother is always “at home” when we are in her womb. She wants us not only to find refuge there each day, but as constantly as a baby finds refuge in its mother’s womb. The key is to spiritually press this against those places of anxiety and distress in our hearts. Remember the last time you were distressed and place it in our Lady’s womb. Remember the things that make you anxious and place them in our Mother’s womb. Let your anxious parts feel her firm support, secure refuge, tender caresses and absolutely safety from any spiritual harm.

Prayer:

Sub tuum praesidium: Beneath your protection, we seek refuge, 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.

Litany of the Holy Spirit or Veni Sancte Spiritus

Rosary (or at least a decade) followed by the Litany of Loreto

Prayer of Entrustment to the Womb of Mary