Devotion to Our Lady is a great part of Benedictine life and many churches and monasteries are dedicated to her and entrusted to her protection.
The Church has beautiful ways of gathering together and drawing close to Mary, both in prayer and song, especially at the end of the day when we entrust ourselves to her protection at the close of the day. The first time I attended Compline was at Douai Abbey where we were gently gathered in by the guest master, around the candlelit Lady Chapel whilst the last hymns of the day were sung to Mary. This is an enduring memory for me, of being gently shepherded into this mutually cherishing relationship between Church and Mother, all quietly gathered beneath her mantle, a touching and beautiful end to the day.
We also gather together to pray the rosary which is a uniting and meditative prayer by which people all around the world seek to draw near to Mary and to each other. We can pray the rosary as individuals or in community; for our own intentions or as intercession for others as a prayer of mercy. I have seen people gain great comfort at difficult times from praying the rosary or simply holding the rosary in their hands and drawing close to Mary in the silence of their hearts.
The Stabat Mater best describes this yearning to draw close to Mary, to stand with her and feel with her heart: “O thou Mother! Fount of love, Touch my spirit from above, Make my heart with thine accord. Make me feel as thou hast felt, Make my soul to glow and melt, With the love of Christ my Lord.” Pope Benedict XVI wrote: “when we pray the rosary Mary offers us her heart and her gaze in order to contemplate the life of her Son, Jesus Christ” and when interviewed on his way to Lourdes in 2008 he said “I am going to find there the love of our Mother which is the true cure for all illnesses, all sorrows. I go to be in solidarity with all those who are suffering; I go in a sign of love for our Mother. This seems to me a very important sign for our epoch”
There has been a consistent message from the Popes over the last fifty years that the Church needs to grow in mercy. Pope John XXIII said that“the spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity” and St Benedict’s rule recognises and highlights this need for mercy for everyone.. “….. never lose hope in God’s mercy…” Monasteries have long been places of sanctuary and protection and in this busy and troubled world people still value places of peace, welcome, hospitality, and prayer, to refresh and restore mind, heart, body and soul.
Certain monastery chapels and shrines to Our Lady have been particular sites of pilgrimage for this Jubilee Year of Mercy and have welcomed many visitors through the specially designated Mercy doors. As the Jubilee Year draws to a close it is a good opportunity for us to reflect on mercy within the Benedictine rule and how that shows in our lives and how that extends out to others and ask ourselves how we can all keep mercy flowing in the heart of our communities and in the heart of the Church as an enduring force for good in the world.
Benedict XVI said: ”Like every mother, and better than every mother, Mary is the teacher of love”. We are still drawing close to Mary today and putting ourselves within her protection, under her mantle, and praying under her gaze, in order to grow in unity and to love with her merciful heart, especially at times of difficulty, illness and sorrow.
Perhaps, by following her example, we can also become doors of mercy and places of shelter for others in our own small ways. The Benedictine Rule says “….as we progress in this way of life and in faith we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.”
Prayer helps to guide our journey “Look to the star, call upon Mary, with her for guide you will not go astray, under her protection you have nothing to fear”
Sarah Richards
Oblate of Prinknash
