Open Reflections

για Ελληνικά πατήστε εδώ

From the very beginning the Church honoured the Mother of the Lord and in her person saw the model of the creature that experiences in her life the fulfilment of God’s promises for salvation.

One of the titles the Western tradition confers on her is “Seat of Wisdom”, and the reference is double: the Virgin becomes the Throne of Wisdom from the moment she carries in her womb the Son of God—when at the Annunciation by the Angel Gabriel she pronounces the “let it be done to me according to thy word’ and God is incarnated in her through her consent.  Mary is and remains the Seat of Wisdom, because throughout her life she thinks, prays and acts in full agreement with the will of God, who Himself is the Wisdom.

In the Oriental Church she is also the “Fiery throne” (Akathist Hymn) because although she was carrying in her womb the Lord of the Universe (Pantokator) she was not consumed — like the blazing bush Moses saw (Ex. 3,2).

Another title given her is “Mirror of Wisdom”; upon her God’s justice is reflected; the justice of God who “loves to be among the children of men” and “searches pure hearts” (Wis. 7), so that the thrice Holy God will be “reposing upon his saints” (Eucharistic liturgy of the Eastern Church).

Mary is, also, the “Mystical Rose”, a symbolism very dear throughout the Middle Ages.     It denotes  her incomparable holiness that is  fully known only to God .

-Seat of Wisdom

-Pray for us

Virgin

Mother! whose virgin bosom was uncrost 
With the least shade of thought to sin allied.
Woman! above all women glorified,
Our tainted nature’s solitary boast;
Purer than foam on central ocean tost;

Brighter than eastern skies at daybreak strewn
With fancied roses, than the unblemished moon
Before her wane begins on heaven’s blue coast;

Thy image falls to earth. Yet some, I ween,
Not unforgiven the suppliant knee might bend,
As to a visible Power, in which did blend
All that was mixed and reconciled in thee
Of mother’s love with maiden purity,
Of high with low, celestial with terrene! 

W. Wordsworth, 1770-1850

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