Mary, Seat of Wisdom

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Background to Mary, Seat of Wisdom

Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of God, is the greatest feminine spiritual icon of our faith. Her role in salvation is powerful because through Mary, Jesus, our Saviour, entered the world. Through Mary’s guidance and love, Jesus grew into a loving and caring man who left his parent’s home to do the work God had given him to do. Throughout his life, Mary was near, rejoicing with him in all his good works and supporting and comforting him in his days of doubt and suffering. Mary was Jesus’ first disciple.

The Church honors Mary throughout the liturgical year. As Christians, we look to her as a model for our own discipleship. We celebrate her birth, the day she was presented to God in the temple, her annunciation, her betrothal to Joseph, her visit to Elizabeth, her journey to Bethlehem where she gave birth, and all the many events in her life with Jesus. We even celebrate her ongoing presence in our world and in our lives through the feast days that remember times when she appeared and spoke to people throughout the centuries. No season of the year is complete without some remembrance of Mary’s role in salvation history, for it was through her, that our salvation was born.

In the Litany of Loretto, Mary is called the “Seat of Wisdom.” She is given this title because she gave flesh to Jesus, the Son of God, whom the Scriptures refer to as the Wisdom of God. During Jesus’ early years she sat him on her lap and nurtured him, thus becoming the “Seat of Wisdom.” Art renditions of this image show Mary on a throne with the child Jesus in her lap.. Often people think that wisdom means making a decision that benefits you. Or, they believe that wisdom is something people have, who are successful in life, or make lots of money. Many people miss the fact that wisdom is a gift from God, that helps you to understand what God’s plan and purpose for your life is. Wisdom is a gift that needs to be cultivated. Making appropri- ate choices that are in line with your faith and values needs to become a habit, so that we are preparing the soil of our hearts to hear God’s voice, as Mary did. As we mature and grow, we hope that our wisdom grows as well. Mary’s parents helped her to use her gift of wisdom so that she was ready to understand God’s plan and purpose for her life when the angel came to announce it. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus, too, “grew in wisdom, age and grace” so that he came to understand what God wanted of him. Wisdom is our gift as well, to be recognized, tested and deepened with each passing year.

While Moses had occasion to see God face to face only on occasion, Mary was his privileged companion by living with Jesus for thirty years! Together, Mary and Jesus strengthened each other’s wisdom and came closer to the Father.

©Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum Division Celebrate Mary, Seat of Wisdom

Gather All make the Sign of the Cross.

Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord. All: Who made heaven and earth.

“We Praise You, Lord” David Haas, 2002, GIA Publications, Inc.

Leader: Let us pray.

Bow your heads and listen as the leader prays.

All: Amen.

Celebration of the Word Reader: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke Read Luke 1:42-50 The Gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection on the Word of God • If you were to imagine Mary as your mother, what would be her message to you at this time in your life? • What does this Scripture tell us about Mary? What does Mary teach us in this Scripture? • In what way does Mary serve as a model for the way you should live your life? Are there any behaviors, attitudes or actions that the inspiration of Mary might challenge you to change?

©Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum Division Response to God’s Word: Option One Litany of Loretto: Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Leader: Lord, have mercy on us. All: Christ, have mercy on us. Leader: Lord, have mercy on us. All: Christ, have mercy on us. Leader: Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. All: Christ graciously hear us. Leader: God, the Father of heaven, All: have mercy on us. Leader: God the Son, Redeemer of the world, All: have mercy on us. Leader: God the Holy Ghost, All: have mercy on us. Leader: Holy Trinity, one God, All: have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, [all respond, “pray for us.”] Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of Christ, Mother of divine grace, Mother most pure, Mother most chaste, Mother inviolate, Mother undefiled, Mother most amiable, Mother most admirable, Mother of good counsel, Mother of our Creator, Mother of our Savior, Virgin most prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renowned, Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice,

©Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum Division Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual vessel, Vessel of honor, Singular vessel of devotion, Mystical rose, Tower of David, Tower of ivory, House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven, Morning star, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians, Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints, Queen conceived without original sin, Queen assumed into heaven, Queen of the most holy Rosary, Queen of Peace, Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, All: spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, All: graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, All: have mercy on us.

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

©Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum Division Response to God’s Word: Option Two All pray aloud the following prayer.

All Holy Father, eternal God, in your goodness you prepared a royal throne for your Wisdom in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary; bathe your Church in the radiance of your life-giving Word that it may press forward on its pilgrim way in the light of your truth, and so come to the joy of a perfect knowledge of your love.

God of wisdom, in your desire to restore us to your friendship after we had lost it by sin, you chose the Blessed Virgin Mary as the seat of your Wisdom. Grant that through her intercession that we may seek not the folly of the wise but the loving service that marks out the poor in spirit. We ask this through Christ our Lord. (Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Daily Roman Missal, WLP, 2365-66)

Intercessions Leader: Lord, through your Mother Mary’s intercession, we ask that you hear us as we pray.

Lord of heaven, you crowned Mary and set her at your right hand as queen; she in turn offered her lap as a throne for your Son. Make us worthy to share in his glory. For this we pray.

All: Hear us, O Lord.

Offer your own prayers of intercession and conclude each with “For this we pray.”

All: Hear us, O Lord.

©Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum Division Prayer of Blessing of an Image of Mary Leader: Lord, In the blessed Virgin You have given your pilgrim Church An image of the glory to come. May those who have fashioned this likeness of Mary Look to her as a model of faith and holiness For all your chosen people. Grant this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

Go Forth Leader: Let us pray.

Bow your heads and listen as the leader prays.

All: Amen. (Liturgy adapted from Blessing of an Image of Mary. Book of Blessings. 543-550)

Making a Difference Name one concrete way in which you can imitate Mary and live as a model of faith in your own world this week?

Teens were avoiding the junior high youth program because of the perception that “the popular kids” would not participate. One girl made the decision to break through that barrier not only to participate, but then to report back to her classmates that it was a very positive faith experi- ence. She subsequently invited her friends to come with her and to come with an open mind and open heart.

Questions for Personal Reflection

• If I allowed her, what one thing would Mary do to change my life? • What might Mary say about my deepest dreams for the future? • What are the qualities Mary has that could be a role model for the way in which I presently respond to my family, my classmates, and the world around me?

See what you can find out about the special days relating to Mary:

1. Mary Mother of God (January 1, solemnity, Luke 2:16-21) 2. Presentation of the Lord (February. 2, feast, Luke 2:22-40) 3. Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11 optional memorial) 4. Annunciation of the Lord (March 25, solemnity, Luke 1:26-38) 5. Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (May 31; feast, Luke 1:39-56) 6. Immaculate Heart of Mary (Saturday following the Second Sunday after Pentecost; optional memorial, Luke 2:41-51) 7. Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16; optional memorial, Luke 11:27-28) 8. Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (August 5, optional memorial) 9. Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15, solemnity, Luke 11:27-28) 10. Queenship of Mary (August 22; memorial, Luke 1: 39-47) 11. Birth of Mary (September 8; feast, Matthew 1:1-23) 12. Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15; memorial, John 19: 25-27) 13. Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7, memorial, Luke 1:26-38) 14. Presentation of Mary (November 21, memorial, Luke 11:27-28) 15. The Immaculate Conception of Mary, (December 8; solemnity, Luke 1:26-38) 16. Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12, in USA, feast, Luke 1:39-55)

Find out…. What is a solemnity, feast, or memorial?