I am
reminded of this Feast Day, every time I take my post as greeter at the
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, KY. My desk is in view of The Marian Window. This is one
of the largest stained-glass windows in the world of a religious nature.It is 67 feet high and 24 feet wide at its
base, and divided into four sections: the Litany of Loretto, The Crowning of Mary, The Council of Ephesus, and
Sixteen Saints.
The top
section depicts various titles named in the “Litany of the Blessed Mother:”
Mystical Rose, Tower of David, Seat of Wisdom, Cause of our Joy, etc. It is inspired by Marian litanies from the
twelfth century on, and was approved by Pope Sixtus V in 1587.
Below
that, the Crowning of Mary commemorates the “Queenship of Mary”. We use this title as we pray the “Salve
Regina,” or the “Hail, Holy Queen.” This
title was promulgated on October 11, 1954, by Pope Pius XII, well after this
window was installed in our Cathedral, by 1920. Jesus crowning Mary as “Queen of Heaven and Earth” occupies the center
of this window.
In the lower section we see a crowded room of dignitaries gathered for the
Council of Ephesus, in the city of that name (in modern Turkey) in A.D. 431. St. Cyril of Alexandria presided at the
Council, representing the bishop of Rome, Celestine I. Here it was decided, against those who
claimed otherwise, that “the Blessed
Virgin is truly Theotokos, (Mother of
God). In other words, Ephesus
affirmed that the two natures of Jesus (human and divine) in one person are
distinct but not separable
It is
this Feast of Mary, named “The Holy Mother of God”, that we celebrate as a
Solemnity each year on January 1, New Year’s Day!
The bottom
of this long window is a row of sixteen saints, some of whom were quoted by the
Council Fathers at Ephesus. In the
spirit of Ephesus some defended orthodoxy or the rights of the Church, while
others had particular devotion to the Blessed Mother. We are familiar with many of these: Isaiah, Evangelists John and Luke, Popes Leo
I and Gregory the Great, Saints Augustine, Dominic, Ambrose, Bernard, Jerome
and others.
Today at the
Monastery our Prioress begins the Eucharistic Liturgy with a
Proclamation for the Solemnity of
Mary, Mother of God
People of God, we gather
today in wonder and praise.
We glory that the age-old
promise has been fulfilled.
We marvel at the mystery
of God-with-us;
We ponder the human face
of love divine, and
We celebrate the endless fidelity year after year
and age after
age.
Like Mary, let us praise
this infinite blessing wrapped in
the
frailty of earth.
Like Mary, let us treasure
this richness and nurture its
graces,
and like Mary, let us hold
for all to see the gift of
salvation
brought by this child for us
and for all the world.
People of God, we are
gathered in wonder and praise.
(text:
Colleen Winston, OSB, 2001,2006. St. Walburg Monastery, Villa
Hills, KY 41017. All rights reserved.)
Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray for us, now and through out this New Year 2020!
Sr. Mary
Tewes, OSB
