Mary...

Here we are at Christmas Eve already! What better time to remember Our Lady? This veil was made especially in her honor. It's light blue, for Mary.

It's only right that a mother should be honored on her child's birthday. But how much more so for the Blessed Mother? She's given us so much through her Son.

 There's so many images of Our Lady veiled. I'd like to share just a few with you here.

Below, The Virgin and Child with John the Baptist Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510)

In answer to her prayers to remain hidden, poor and lowly, God was pleased to conceal her from nearly every other human creature in her conception, her birth, her life, her mysteries, her resurrection and assumption.
St. Louis de Montfort, True devotion to Mary

Below, Fra Philippo Lippi,  Madonna and Child with the Angels  (c. 1455)

Her own parents did not really know her; and the angels would often ask one another, "Who can she possibly be?", for God had hidden her from them, or if he did reveal anything to them, it was nothing compared with what he withheld. 

St. Louis de Montfort, True devotion to Mary

Above, one of Giovanni Bellini's many Madonnas (c. 1485). Below, another Madonna by Bellini.

God the Father willed that she should perform no miracle during her life, at least no public one, although he had given her the power to do so. God the Son willed that she should speak very little although he had imparted his wisdom to her.  
St. Louis de Montfort, True devotion to Mary


Below, The Virgin of the Grapes Pierre I. Mignard (1612-1695).

 Even though Mary was his faithful spouse, God the Holy Spirit willed that his apostles and evangelists should say very little about her and then only as much as was necessary to make Jesus known.  
St. Louis de Montfort, True devotion to Mary



The last two veiled ones below, William Bouguereau (1825-1905)

Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and he has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility. He called her "Woman" as if she were a stranger, although in his heart he esteemed and loved her above all men and angels. Mary is the sealed fountain and the faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit where only he may enter. She is the sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe, not excluding his dwelling above the cherubim and seraphim. No creature, however pure, may enter there without being specially privileged. 

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .


Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen. 

Below, Fra Angelico, Annunciation. (c. 1400-45)

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed and happy New Year!