Columbine by Ann L. Krumrein
As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all you that desire me, and be filled with my fruits. For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations. They that eat me, shall yet hunger: and they that drink me, shall yet thirst. He that hearkens to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting. ~Sirach 24:23-31 (Douay Rheims)
Ave Maria! Yesterday we adored the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today we salute the Immaculate Heart of Mary, His Blessed Mother and ours. It is fitting to celebrate these two feasts back-to-back for Mary's heart was formed by her Son's heart. Our Lord Jesus gave Mary His heart even as she gave Him her flesh and blood when He was conceived and grew in her womb. In years past, the above Scripture passage from Sirach was the first reading -- or Epistle, as it was called in those days -- for today's memorial. How rightly the Church uses these sacred words to describe Our Lady! She is the mother of fair love because her Son is our "Fairest Lord Jesus." To be filled with her fruits is to be filled with Jesus, the fruit of her womb. To eat and to drink of her is to hunger and thirst ever more for her Son, the Bread of Life and the Living Water. To hear her is to her Him who has the words of everlasting Life, and to listen to her is to be told to do "whatever He tells you" (John 2:5).
The Novena Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary aptly calls upon her as "heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling." Come then, let us go over to her and rest in her Immaculate Heart. Let us find comfort and strength in her sweet spirit, joy and hope in her blessed inheritance. Let us feast on her goodness and love. Let us share in her God-given honor and riches and, with her, magnify the Lord for ever.
Almighty everlasting God, Who in the heart of the blessed Virgin Mary didst prepare a dwelling worthy of the Holy Ghost: grant in Thy mercy, that we who with devout minds celebrate the festival of that immaculate heart, may be able to live according to Thine own Heart... Amen. ~Roman Catholic Daily Missal 1962
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