A busy week for Our Lady!

Our Lady of Sorrows at the top of my stairs.

The Marian Monogram (the Holy Name of Mary).

The Immaculate Heart of Mary on the back of a chasuble.

This is a busy week for many people, getting back into the swing of things after the summer holidays, mixed with trying to get the kids out in the sun, making it's traditional start of term appearance. Those who are subject to the whims of Rome are excitedly making preparations to either start Old Rite Masses or do their best to avoid them, depending on which side of the table you are on. I am not going to write anything about the motu proprio concerning the Mass, it does not affect me particularly although I will pray that the Roman Church does not split over it and that both sides act with charity and dignity. There seems to be much to lose and much to gain.

Our Lady's prayers could maybe be sought for us all this week, as we enter into a week of change and flux. She had her birthday on Saturday (and I hope all those who had wine and cake for the Motu Proprio had the same for her), Wednesday is the feast of her Holy Name and Saturday is the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows, sandwiched around the Triumph of the Holy Cross on Friday. We must remember that Our Lady is a real person, physically in Heaven, who saw, of course, great sadness and happiness in Her life. If my statue were complete, it would have seven swords in her heart (the holes are there but I have no swords), and if our veneration of Her is complete, if our prayer life is complete, then we must ask for Her intercession in the good times and bad times. I come over all emotional on Easter Day anyway, particularly when I think on how She must have felt, seeing Her Son, risen and alive, as all her great grief was lifted and we sing the Regina Caeli to celebrate Her joy. But we should remember Our Lady of Sorrows, as well as Her Holy Name as well, our Faith is there to make us whole, and it is organic as well as holistic. It speaks to all of us, at all times in our life, so when we are flung from joy to sorrow, think of Our Lady, and Her feasts this week.

For those of you who want such things (and I very much enjoy saying Vespers in Latin now and again, but make sure, like me, that you understand what you are saying) here is the 'Hail Holy Queen' in Latin. Sing it on Friday and pray for understanding and that Mary may be our model in our relationships with others and especially in relationships in between our Churches.

Salve, Regína, mater misericórdiae;
vita dulcédo et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamámus, éxsules fílii Hevae.
Ad te suspirámus, geméntes et flentes, in hac lacrimárum valle.
Eja ergo, advocáta nostra,
illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte.
Et Jesum, benedíctum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsílium osténde.
O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo María.

V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix.

R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus.

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui gloriosae Virginis Matris Mariae corpus et animam, ut dignum Filii tui habitaculum effici mereretur, Spiritu Sancto cooperante praeparasti: da, ut cujus commemoratione laetamur; ejus pia intercessione, ab instantibus malis, et a morte perpetua liberemur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.