I recently discovered this endearing portrait of the Virgin Mary. According to medieval legend, the Virgin Mary lived in the Temple in Jerusalem as a girl. While there, she devoted herself to praying and sewing vestments, the subject of Zurbarán’s painting. The artist depicts her little hands clasped in prayer while her sewing tools lay before her. You can see a lily in the background signifying her virginity and purity. And, if you look closely you will note angels in the background surrounding God’s highly favored servant.
The following is an excerpt from a homily of St. Bernard that he delivered on the Holy Name of Mary. I am sure that you will agree that his words transcends the centuries.
‘And the Virgin’s name was Mary.’ Let us speak a little about this name, which is said to mean ‘star of the sea,’ and which so well befits the Virgin Mother. Rightly is she likened to a star. As a star emits a ray without being dimmed, so the Virgin brought forth her Son without receiving any injury…. Mary is that bright and incomparable star, whom we need to see raised above this vast sea, shining by her merits, and giving us light by her example.
All of you, who see yourselves amid the tides of the world, tossed by storms and tempests rather than walking on the land, do not turn your eyes away from this shining star, unless you want to be overwhelmed by the hurricane. If temptation storms, or you fall upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the star: Call upon Mary! If you are tossed by the waves of pride or ambition, detraction or envy, look to the star, call upon Mary. If anger or avarice or the desires of the flesh dash against the ship of your soul, turn your eyes to Mary. If troubled by the enormity of your crimes, ashamed of your guilty conscience, terrified by dread of the judgment, you begin to sink into the gulf of sadness or the abyss of despair, think of Mary. In dangers, in anguish, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her name be even on your lips, ever in your heart; and the better to obtain the help of her prayers, imitate the example of her life: Following her, thou strayest not; invoking her, thou despairest not; thinking of her, thou wanderest not; upheld by her, thou fallest not; shielded by her, thou fearest not; guided by her, thou growest not weary; favored by her, thou reachest the goal. And thus dost thou experience in thyself how good is that saying: ‘And the Virgin’s name was Mary.’