your lowly handmaid, the Virgin Mary,
is resplendent in your presence
with the glory of her Son and the beauty of holiness;
grant that like her
we may seek only what is true and just
and so come before you, the origin of all beauty
and the author of purest love...
Some of you might recognise this, as one of the opening prayers for the Mass of the Mother of Fairest Love. Out of all the Masses dedicated to Our Lady, this was the one chosen years ago for today's feast of Mater Admirabilis. Throughout, this Mass' prayers sing of loveliness and grace and beauty; of radiance and glory. And indeed, as Pauline Perdreau did with Mater, artists throughout the centuries have invariably depicted Mary as a lovely young woman: though naturally, Mary's true beauty isn't that of a Hollywood star or a supermodel, but the profoundly, serenely joyful inner beauty of holiness; of being full of grace, and full of God, and of love. This, in itself, can surely say a lot to a world obsessed with appearances, and beautiful people!
And of course, the Fairest Love she bore and brought into our world was her Son Jesus, the most wondrous embodiment of tenderness and healing and mercy, and of self-giving, all-embracing and redemptive love.
Today, as Sacred Heart communities and schools throughout the world celebrate this young woman, resplendent in God's presence, and in her moment of contemplation, we can surely ask her to pray with all of us... That in a world so in need of truth and justice, peace and pure love, we too may seek only the graces and growth which increase these qualities in us; so that we too may always radiate the One who is the origin of all beauty, and the author of all love.
Happy feast everybody!
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