The month of Might is an thrilling month for many individuals. It’s marked by particular holidays like Mom’s Day and Memorial Day. Graduations happen. And we start to transition to summer season. One other hallmark for a lot of properties is the welcoming of birds again to their yard. The place I reside in Wisconsin, I welcome 4 little hummingbirds to my feeder who come very often for a drink of sugar water. A robin has laid eggs in a small nook of my church edifice, and lots of birds eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at my feeders. I get pleasure from ending the day in my yard, watching the birds come and go.
Might can also be Mary’s month. We crown the Blessed Virgin Mary in our parishes and houses and renew our devotion to her with hymns and prayers. Is it attainable that fowl watching and Marian devotion could possibly be united? Did Mary watch the birds come and go in Egypt and the Holy Land? Did birds come and relaxation on her hand and eat? Although I’m a Marian theologian, I by no means would have thought-about this very concept, if it weren’t for Venerable Maria of Agreda, the mystic chargeable for the four-volume Mystical Metropolis of God. In my each day studying of this religious traditional as a podcast in a yr, I just lately found Mary’s relationships to the birds. Whether or not it’s true, and I hope it’s, I have to have in mind a lot of Maria of Agreda’s Mystical Metropolis of God is the fruit of her private meditation and prayer.
Throughout tough moments for the Blessed Virgin, birds would usually come to deliver her pleasure and happiness, as in the event that they knew her spirit wanted to be lifted. Maria of Agreda writes: “Typically, with a purpose to afford Her wise aid, innumerable birds would come to go to Her by the command of the Lord. As in the event that they have been endowed with mind, they’d salute Her by their full of life actions, and dividing into harmonious choirs, would furnish her with sweetest music, and they’d look ahead to her blessing earlier than once more disappearing.” I can testify, that if I had a foul day, watching the birds and collaborating in viewing God’s artistic work, brings me nice pleasure. And an added happiness if I spot a fowl that isn’t a normal customer.
An skilled fowl watcher will be capable of establish completely different calls of birds. The birds sing and we pay attention, and perhaps even expertise peace. Maria of Agreda says that Mary spoke to the birds and commanded them to stay along with her and reward along with her to Almighty God. It’s a reminder to us that every little thing God has created provides reward to God by who or what it’s. It’s why Daniel’s hymn (chapter 3) can say, “Ice and snow, bless the Lord.” Or applicable right here, “All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.” Maria of Agreda additionally remarked that the birds would deliver flowers to Mary. Not solely do birds know that flowers should be delivered to Mary, we deliver her flowers on the Mary altar, place flowers atop her head, or plant a Mary backyard.
One other fascinating tidbit from Maria of Agreda, “It additionally occurred that in dangerous climate some birds would come and search the safety of the heavenly Woman, and She took them in and nourished them in her admirable innocence glorifying the Creator of all issues.” These birds are fairly good to seek out shelter and security close to the Blessed Mom. However that’s the case for all of us too. We fly to the intercession of Mary usually, particularly within the dangerous climate of our lives. We go to many shrines, mild candles, and bow our heads in prayer with frequent prayers or litanies, understanding that she is becoming a member of us in our prayer to God. We search refuge and security in her arms simply as a toddler runs to his mom in tough moments.
The subsequent time you see birds at your feeders, enable it to be a reminder of Our Woman, who apparently had an important love for birds, and was a birdwatcher identical to you and me. Just like the birds, might we sing the praises of God and fly to Mary’s safety in instances of bother.
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