Saturday, May 26, 2007

Our New Miraculous Medal Prayer Petition Mobile

After a bit of scrambling through the rafters of the roof by my oldest boy, so as to feed part of the hook through a hole dh had drilled, we finally got our mobile up! I drilled a small hole at the top of the mobile and fed through a few strands of strong fishing line and then hung the mobile on the hook. I then printed up some of our present prayer requests and pinned them to the 'showering of graces' netting, with plenty of room for more!

Our house is not enormous, so room is scarce in the main part of the house. Having the mobile near our family prayer altar was probably the best place to hang it.

While I have been involved with the mobile, I was continually looking at the two sides, re-creating the two sides of the medal and so you can't help but to think about what this medal is telling us, for those wondering too, here an explaination:

The Meaning of the Front Side of the Miraculous Medal

Our Blessed Mother Mary stands upon the globe, as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. She is crushing the head of a serpent beneath her foot. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim Satan and all his followers are helpless before her (Gn 3:15). As God's chosen instrument, her hands are open, shedding the graces that Christ won for us. All grace comes to us through her pure hands.

The year of 1830 on the Miraculous Medal is the year the Blessed Mother gave the design of the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine Labouré. Etched around the rim is the prayer "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." This reference to Mary conceived without sin proclaims the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. This side of the medal is glorious, showing us the fruits of the redemption of mankind.

The Meaning of the Back Side of the Miraculous Medal

The Cross is on top of the M, showing that Christ is the Saviour of all, including Mary. The altar is attached to the cross, showing us the redemptive sacrifice of calvary that is ever present at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The M is intimately entwined in the redemptive sacrifice of mankind, she said "Yes" at the Annunciation and that ‘Yes’ continues on today until the end of time. In this we see Mary’s part in our salvation and her role as mother of the Church.

The hearts of Jesus and Mary are pictured; Jesus' heart has a crown of thorns, representing the sufferings He underwent to free us from sin and to show His infinite love for each and every person. Mary's heart is pierced by a sword of sorrow (Lk. 2:35) as she joined in Christ's suffering for love of us, even standing at the foot of the cross. The twelve stars can refer to the Apostles, who represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of Saint John, writer of the Book of Revelation (12:1), in which “a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars.” This side of the medal is sorrowful, showing us the price paid for the redemption of mankind.

MARY'S MONTH

"Blue skies,
Blue waters, blue as Mary's eyes
God scatters with a lavish hand,
On every land.
Still night,
Made lovely with soft, silver light,
God wraps about the world when day
Has slipped away.
Each field
Holds up a golden-flowered shield
Against the shining shafts of sun;
Yet each is won.
Bright rain
God spills to bring to earth again
New freshness. Then like sudden tears
It disappears.
Green trees,
The vagabonding summer breeze,
The golden days and silver nights
His will unites
In one.
And when His work of love is done,
His will decrees a holiday,
The month of May.
And why?
That she, as pure as summer sky,
Who found within an earth-born Boy
What earth contained of joy
and pain
Might find her full content of joy On earth again."

4 comments:

Mary Machado said...

It is absolutely beautiful, Anne!

Alice Gunther said...

This is the most stunningly beautiful, intricate, meaningful, and blessed craft project I have ever seen. It is more than a craft project--it is a lasting work of art that will bless your home and family (and all who read this) forever!

I can't compliment you enough.

Cheering and clapping and a standing ovation from New York!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mary Vitamin (Helen) said...

Fantastic Anne and very meaningful.
I'm so glad you have a blog!

Chemai said...

Dear Anne,

Your mobil is so very lovely and what a beautiful way of keeping prayers petitions special, to be shared with the children and to give them such a stunning visual reminder that our prayers are tangibly Under Her Starry Mantle.

This is very inspiring

Love
Chemai