"May is Mary's month, and I
Muse at that and wonder why...."

So wrote the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, who connected Mary's motherhood with nature's motherhood revealed in the blossoming of Spring.  As God fulfils his promise by annually renewing the face of the earth - so too the Blessed Virgin Mary, in obedience to God's call, brought forth new life in the form of Jesus - the Saviour of the world.

Having twice now attended their bi-annual residential pilgrimage at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, in company with Michael Haslam, I have decided to join "The Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary" (ESBVM for short!).  Earlier this year we were blessed with early spring weather as so many varied and diverse denominations of Christians gathered at the shrine for united worship and to hear a series of excellent talks and lectures on the place and significance of Mary in the Church of today.  We were a happy band of pilgrims which included among them Methodists, Scottish Prebyterians, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Orthodox and Copts, all seeing the special place that Mary occupies within the church universal.  For, if it wasn't for Mary's "Yes" to the Archangel Gabriel's request then Jesus would not have been born (there was no plan B) and therefore no church and no salvation.  So Mary occupies a unique place in Salvation History and therefore should be held by all in great honour.

Following the Reformation Mary was somewhat eclipsed and even held in suspicion by Christians of the Reformed churches.  However, if you look in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer which is, of course, a post-Reformation liturgy, you will see that no fewer that five feast days are ascribed to Our Lady. They are -

February 2nd     - The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
March 25th         - The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
July 2nd              - The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 8th   - The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 8th    - The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This shows that even a Church Reformer like Thomas Cranmer held Our Lord's mother in high regard.  Yet, for many Christians Mary remains fixed in the past in the pages of Scripture.  But for me Mary is both integral to the biblical narrative, and yet fully present to us today as chief among the communion of saints.

In the iconography of both the Eastern and Western churches Mary is very much present during the Great 50 Days of the Easter season.  In the East the icon of Ascension shows Mary standing, her hands uplifted in prayer, in the midst of the apostles as they gaze heavenward.  In the West Mary is more often depicted with the apostles at Pentecost as they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Once again - we shall be having our annual parish pilgrimage to Walsingham for the National Pilgrimage to England's Nazareth.  The coach will be leaving the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Kelvedon at 8.00a.m. on MONDAY, 28th MAY for a really holy and happy day at what has been voted as the country's holiest place.  I invite you to come along for a most refreshing and renewing experience.

During this month of May - Mary's month - I further invite you to let her enter into your life.  I invite you to call to mind the iconic image of Mary as she is depicted in the East with her hands raised in prayer.  In this context Mary represents not only her own faithfulness but that of all Christians, who in opening their hands offer themselves to God's mysterious ways and welcome and receive, as did Mary, God's Holy Spirit.

May Mary's loyal companionship help us to enter more deeply into the events of the Ascension and Pentecost.  May her example of unwavering availability to God's strange and unsettling ways invite our fuller participation in God's work of drawing all things together in the bond of love.

Every Blessing,
FATHER DAVID