Writings of St. Bede the Venerable
 |
| The Visitation |
Visitation --
Mary's Soul Proclaims God's Greatness (St. Bede) Feast of the Visitation:
Mary's Soul
Proclaims God's Greatness
The Visitation
of St. Elizabeth by the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated and explained in this
excerpt from a homily by Saint Bede the Venerable (Lib 1,4:CCL 122, 25-26, 30)
which is used in the Roman Catholic
Liturgy's Divine Office of Readings for the Feast of the Visitation, May 31,
with the accompanying biblical reading being from Song of Songs 2:8-14 and
8:6-7. Written in the early 8th century,
it explains why the Magnificat, Mary's prayer on the occasion of the
Visitation, is used daily in the liturgy of the hours (a.k.a the divine office)
for evening prayer.
My soul
proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
With these words Mary first acknowledges the special gifts she has been given.
Then she recalls God’s universal favors, bestowed unceasingly on the human
race.
When a man
devotes all his thoughts to the praise and service of the Lord, he proclaims
God’s greatness. His observance of God’s commands, moreover, shows that he has
God’s power and greatness always at heart. His spirit rejoices in God his
saviour and delights in the mere recollection of his creator who gives him hope
for eternal salvation.
These words are
often for all God’s creations, but especially for the Mother of God. She alone
was chosen, and she burned with spiritual love for the son she so joyously
conceived. Above all other saints, she alone could truly rejoice in Jesus, her
savior, for she knew that he who was the source of eternal salvation would be
born in time in her body, in one person both her own son and her Lord.
For the Almighty
has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Mary attributes nothing to
her own merits. She refers all her greatness to the gift of the one whose
essence is power and whose nature is greatness, for he fills with greatness and
strength the small and the weak who believe in him.
She did well to
add: and holy is his name, to warn those who heard, and indeed all who would
receive his words, that they must believe and call upon his name. For they too
could share in everlasting holiness and true salvation according to the words
of the prophet: and it will come to pass, that everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord will be saved. This is the name she spoke of earlier: and my spirit
rejoices in God my savior.
Therefore it is
an excellent and fruitful custom of holy Church that we should sing Mary’s hymn
at the time of evening prayer. By meditating upon the incarnation, our devotion
is kindled, and by remembering the example of God’s Mother, we are encouraged
to lead a life of virtue. Such virtues are best achieved in the evening. We are
weary after the day’s work and worn out by our distractions. The time for rest
is near, and our minds are ready for contemplation.
For more writings of Venerable Bede go to--
http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_author/44/St._Bede_the_Venerable.html
No comments:
Post a Comment