When I saw the following notice in the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Bulletin, I was intrigued and decided to participate.
The notice said, “Mary Crowning Procession and Song, Saturday, May 11, 9:30 am to noon. Bring flowers, a snack and laughter to share. We will make crowns (materials will be provided) and celebrate in song, recognizing and honoring the mother of mothers.”
At the gathering to celebrate the Divine Mother I shared several of the 1942 Pentecost Novena poems by Edith Stein.
In 1998, Edith Stein became Saint Teresa Benedicta. Her statue outside St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome depicts her holding both the Torah and the Cross.
A convert from Judaism, she died a Catholic martyr in Auschwitz in 1942. In my research of Edith Stein, I was very moved by the 1998 canonization speech of Pope John Paul ll.
The story of Carmelite nun St. Teresa Benedicta is a reminder of the trials and the suffering in Christ, and also of the joy and unity in faith.
In our age, Avatar Meher Baba also offers us an opportunity to share in these aspects of His Advent.
At the Divine Mother Celebration, we made wreaths of flowers to wear and sang Catholic devotional songs to honor the Crowning of Mary.
Jane’s Madonna
For the women’s gathering my friend Jane McKann brought her statue with an image of Mother Mary, surrounded by shells and stones in a natural wooden setting, Jane was inspired to create the art piece to honor her experiences of motherhood. Jane calls her statue The Great Mother.
My friend Helma Gumpp brought her statue of the Madonna and child to the gathering. The statue is originally from her family home in Munich, Germany. Inspired by the music, the singing and the images of the Divine Mother that we brought for the gathering, I danced on the outdoor labyrinth courtyard.
Helma’s Statue photo by Sue Cook
fine & watchful I dance
gently the breeze
carries me
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