In Mary, heaven embraced earth, Mary: Day 348

In Mary, heaven embraced earth

The Marian prayers of St. Bernard of Clairvaux abound with lovely and powerful images to be relished and pondered. Here, he speaks of heaven’s embrace of earth when God became Man in Mary’s womb.

Mary, our Mother,

the whole world reveres you

as the holiest shrine of the living God,

for in you, the salvation of the world dawned.

The Son of God was pleased to take human flesh from you. You have broken down the wall of hatred,

the barrier between heaven and earth that had been raised by Adam and Eve’s disobedience.

In you, heaven embraced earth when divinity and humanity were united in one Person, the God-Man.

Mother of God, we sing your praises, but we must praise you even more.

Our speech is too feeble to honor you as we should, for no tongue is eloquent enough

to tell your excellence.

Mary, most powerful, most holy, and worthy of all love: Your name brings new life,

and the thought of you calls forth love

in the hearts of all who are devoted to you.

—St. Bernard of Clairvaux

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . .  .

What does it mean to me to realize that “heaven embraced earth” in Mary?

Do I have a personal sense of God’s embrace in Christ—that he himself has come down from heaven to join himself to me in love?

CLOSING PRAYER

From the Tota Pulchra Es: You are all beauty, Mary, and there is no blemish of original sin in you. Your garments are as white as snow, and your face is as the sun. You are the glory of Jerusalem, the joy of Israel, the source of honor to our people.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Paul Thigpen and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.