our Lady at the Abbey by Fr. Me i n ra d M i l l e r
Visitors to the Abbey are greeted by our Coat of Arms, with a cross and the moon. This simple sign reminds us daily that we trust in the Lord who will provide. The moon, which represents Our Lady of Divine Providence, reflects the light of the Cross of Christ. The moon does not compete with the sun, or replace it; rather it brings the light of the sun to dispel the darkness of night just as Mary brings the light of Jesus to dispel the darkness of sin and unbelief in our hearts. Devotion to Our Lady, and an awareness of her concern for us, has been a part of the Christian life from the earliest years. We see in the Scriptures the role Mary played in the life of Jesus and the early community all the way from the Annunciation through Pentecost. In many ways Mary has been a model for those who embrace the Benedictine life because she teaches us how to say “yes” to Jesus, and how to ponder His meaning for our lives. Within a year of the founding of our community in 1857 Our Lady appeared again in our world at Lourdes, France, in 1858 to St. Bernadette Soubirous. Like all things that have to do with God’s providence, this apparition, which supported the teaching that she was the Immaculate Conception, came at a historical moment in need of this simple teaching. Sophisticated thinkers during the enlightenment had convinced themselves that the human race had no need for God. Our Lady appeared in a world where humanity had become the measure of itself, and reminded the world that the self-made man is an illusion. Even her sanctity is a gift from God given freely at the Immaculate Conception. Through the ages Benedictines have pondered this great mystery each evening by ending Vespers with the hymn Our Lady cried out in the Gospel upon her visit to Elizabeth:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, My spirit rejoices in God my savior
For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. St. Bede the Venerable (672-735), a Benedictine monk, taught us that these words of Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) remind us that she alone was chosen, and she burned with spiritual love for the son she so joyously conceived. When we chant these words every evening we also are reminded to stop and, through Mary, burn with spiritual love for Jesus. St. Bede goes on to remind us of the advantages we have of singing the Canticle of Mary (Magnificat) at Vespers: “Therefore it is an excellent and fruitful custom of holy Church that we should sing Mary’s hymn at the time of Evening Prayer. By meditating upon the 6
Kansas Monks
