Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Thoughts at Candlemas

The 2 February is the Feast of  the Presentation in the Temple, aka Candlemas.  The last day of extended Christmas tide.  And I was thinking about the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary while waiting for Mass to begin.

They're all about journeys.  In the first mystery, the Archangel Gabriel journeys from Heaven to Nazareth to announce the Incarnation. 

The second mystery has Mary on the road, travelling from Nazareth to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who lives down south near Jerusalem. 

Then the third mystery has Mary and Joseph both travelling south from Nazareth, to Bethlehem.  The Lord is born while they shelter in a stable. 

The fourth mystery is the Presentation.  Mary, Joseph and the Child travel from Bethlehem to the Temple in nearby Jerusalem. 

And in the fifth mystery, the Holy Family travels from Nazareth to the Temple for annual celebrations. 

They say that life is a big journey.  But what impresses me is how Mary's life was made up of lots of smaller journeys. 

A bit like St Therese of Liseux's "little way", achieving perfection through attention to trifles.  (And, as Michelangelo is supposed to have said, perfection is no trifle!)

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