there is something about Mary

estudiante (Aram Hakhumyan) -
madonna and child

~~~~

The Sub Tuum Praesidium

We fly to thy protection,
O holy Mother of God;
despise not our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.

It is oftentimes difficult to explain to my Protestant brethren what it is that attracts Catholics to have more devotion to Mary. For this former Protestant, it was never an issue: She was the Mother of Jesus, we are told to Honor our Father and Mother and in desiring to be more like Jesus, we should give His Mother honor and respect, so it simply made sense. As does asking for the saints to intercede for us on our behalf since we ask our friends to pray, why not ask the saints who are in Heaven, already glorified with God, to pray for us, as well?

Scott at Swept Over gives wonderful thoughts on this beautiful, ancient prayer, as well as further reflection in his comments section. Scott is also a convert to the faith; a learned one at that. Good stuff, Scott.

note to self:

watching "Mary, the Mother of Jesus" on the Science Channel may be a bit skewed as far as their message may be concerned.

oy.

without raising a total firestorm with the following question, one of the more interesting sidebar-type comments the sidebar-type commentator (read: scholar) made was about the "many brothers and sisters Mary had given birth to after Jesus" that were made mention in "several places in the Gospels."

uh....oh. really.

really?

where, exactly? and once the words are found referring to all of His sibs, could you please indicate the origin of these words?

thanks in advance :)