Monday Mornings with Mary - the East Gate

Out of the silence Light is spoken.

We do not hear it or see it until it is spoken.

Now, the Wisdom of God, Sophia, comes forth, 

reaching from 'end to end'mightily.'

She wills to be also the unseen

pivot of all nature,

the center and significance

of all the light that is 

IN all and FOR all.

That which is poorest and humblest ,

that which is most hidden in all things

is nevertheless most obvious in them,

and quite manifest, for it is their own self

that stands before us, naked and without care.

These words are once again from the essay 'Sophia' by Thomas Merton.

I was first introduced to Thomas Merton by Fran Redondowriter's blog
http://redondowriter.typepad.com/sacredordinary/

and ever since I have been reading his writings and poetry non-stop.

His words carry so many layers and he was a man with a vision

of the feminine principle of the Divine and Her peace, mercy

and compassion which this world so lacks.

This shrine is the latest addition to my garden, and as you can

see I could nor stop taking pictures of Mary in the early morning light.
You can also see there is still lots of work to be done
around it.

First thing in the morning I sit outside in my garden, 

looking East and one morning as the light shimmered and danced,

I clearly saw the Light of Mary emanating from that shimmering light.

Instinctively my heart listened and my heart heard :

I Am the Light;

I am the Eastern Gate;

I Am the Dawn;

I am that hidden Love that transforms night into day.

I there and then decided to put up a shrine  in that corner

so that I can fill my eyes' gaze with her in the light

and remember the eternal promise of Love changes all.

It is autumn here and I have the most beautiful hawthorn in my

garden which just appeared one day.  Someone sent me the link

of the symbolic meaning of the hawthorn bush

and I was not surprised to read that this plant

has through the ages always been associated with

the presence and energy of the Blessed Mary.

A wonderful Monday Morning with Mary to you

and please visit Rebecca's offering

at http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/

and other Mornings with Mary sharings

for inspiration with your first cup of the morning.

blessings

Monday mornings with Mary, the Sun

III High Morning : The Hour of Tierce

The sun burns in the blue sky like the face of God,
but we do not know

his countenance as terrible.
His light is diffused in the air and the 

light of God is
diffused by Hagia Sophia.

All the perfection of created things are also in God, and therefore He is

at once Father and Mother.
As Father He stands in solitary might

surrounded by darkness.

As Mother His shining is diffused, embracing all
His creatures with

merciful tenderness and light. 

The Diffuse Shining of God is Hagia Sophia. 

We call Her His 'glory'.
In Sophia

His power is experienced only as

mercy and love.

The feminine principle in the world is the
inexhaustible source of creative

realisations of the Father's glory.

She is His manifestation in radiant splendour!

But she remains unseen,
glimpsed only by a few.

Sometimes there are none who know Her at all.

IV Sunset. The Hour of Compline. Salve Regina

Now the Blessed Virgin Mary is the one created being
who enacts and shows forth in her life
all that is hidden in Sophia.
Because of this she can be said to be a personal
manifestation of Sophia,
Who in God is Ousia
rather than Person.

Extracted from Sophia by Thomas Merton (Maria Lodewicus)

Join in with Mornings with Mary

hosted by Rebecca at 

http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/

visit other posts

and share in thoughts inspired by Mary.

Have a blessed week.

Mornings with Mary - 20 May 2013

She was a poor shepherdess,

Bernadette,

growing up at the foothills of the Pyrenees

on the banks of the Gave du Pau

tending the very poor family's

small flock of sheep

When the most miraculous vision appeared to her

a vision of Light

with roses on Her feet

from this numinous event

flowed forth a stream of healing water,

a holy place was born

Bernadette's life was transformed

into one of passion,

commitment and a vocation to the highest Love

Bernadette's message : God is everywhere!

(an embroidered postcard)

A place where the fire was lit long ago

and the fire of your Soul

and Its unconditional love

is kept alive

A light for your feet

And such is the miracle within our own hearts

as She brings forth the waters of regeneration,

healing and wholeness,

teaching you that Love is everywhere

This is one of my most favourite shrines - it hangs
in my bedroom where I can look upon it every day.
I have shared this one previously in A Virgin a Day, so I hope you enjoy it a second time around.

It is a small folk shrine which I made from items I collected during my visit to Lourdes :  an embroidered holy card, a small collector's doll which I dressed up as Bernadette, a tiny statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, and a water colour sketch of the Cathedral of Lourdes.  To strengthen the feel and theme of the innocent child and childhood feelings, I used birthday cake candles to represent the massive votives that are kept burning at the grotto.

My visit to Lourdes changed the course of my life in so many ways - a virtual 180 degree change!  Next year I am leading a pilgrimage to the holy waters of Lourdes.

You may want to join in or

visit other participants

in this sharing of Mornings with Mary on Monday mornings
 by Rebecca

http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/

blessings

Mornings with Mary

Mother of God

similar to fire,

ignite my heart in prayer

Where once I stood on familiar ground,

selecting my spiritual experiences

like choice morsels from a well-tended larder,

now my garden has gone up in flames

and I thirst only for the Living God

Let me swallow the Sacred

and burn with that Presence,

illuminating a way home to the Truth.

Lit from within,

let my blazing heart become a sanctuary

for the weary traveller,

until this long night lifts

and dawn unfolds her new radiance

                                                                                   -    Mirabai Starr

And so we start the week with

Mornings with Mary

May you find inspiration in the burnt garden and the regeneration

offered by the Sacred Heart of Blessed Mary

Please visit Rebecca at

http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon.html

for more sharings on

Mornings with Mary

Blessings 

Mornings with Mary - Dark and Light

The beauty of colour ..... derives from shape;

from the conquest of the darkness inherent in Matter,

by the pouring in of light, the unembodied ........

 -                       Plotinus

Darkness is the great canvas against which beauty becomes visible.

- John O"Donaghue, Divine Beauty

Doubt is the shadow cast when something gets in the way of the light.  

Ironically, doubt itself brings greater light because of the

shadow it casts.

Another wonderful blessed Morning with Mary

Please visit other Mary sharings at Rebecca's

Recuerda mi Corazon : Mornings with Mary

Blessings

Mornings with Mary

Feel my hand

You are already in my arms.

You are already looking at me.

Open your eyes

Open your eyes, dear one.

You are my dearest child.

I am your Mother

Do not be afraid

Nothing is lost

Nothing that you love is lost

I am its home

I am where everything is full, where all of life is complete

The darkness is the pathway through my eyes

You will find light

You will begin to see

Call on me

Reach out your hand

I love you

You are my darling child

You are my dearest heart

Do not be afraid

Nothing is lost

Nothing

Everything is right here, right here in me

I am your Mother.

  Christin Lore Weber from Circle of Mysteries

(the lace Blessed Mother in the background is handmade lace by the women of Burano, Italy)

For more inspirational Mornings with Mary

go to http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/2013/04/mornings-with-mary-sunflowers.html

A blessed and tender week to you.

with love

Hettienne

Mornings with Mary

Oh Maria Sophia,

Let reason laugh

so very much at my simplicity

even more will I sing

about the object of my love

Oh Maria Sophia my Strength

O She is my Heroine,

And everything that I need.

And without Her know I

myself to be unprepared for battle ....

Be Thou mine. Thou Heroine, Thou,

God's pure Life.

Let me be suspended unharmed

in peace that is assured.

Hold me tightly to You.

Protect me with your cloak!

And when the enemy's power mounts,

So fight and be victorious in me!

by Gottfried Arnold from Sophia-Maria by Thomas Schipflinger

Painting of Maria Sophia in acrylic on canvas by Hettienne

Every Monday I share Morning with Mary with you

and with others at

Rebecca's Recuerda mi Corazon : Mornings with Mary

Please visit and see other sharings of Mary.