In school we tried to sing a different hymn to Our Lady ('The Bells of the Angelus', 'Oh, Mother I could weep for Mirth', 'Oh, Virgin Mother', 'Oh, Mary conceived without sin', I'll sing a Hymn to Mary') every morning.  I remember how I looked forward to it each year.

Then as a teacher I carried on the tradition, though somewhat changed - I brought in the flowers and there was only one hymn for May on 'the programme', called "May is the Month of Mary".  I must say the children sang this with gusto!  All of the above was a lead-up to

talking to the children about Our Lady the mother of God and looking at her role in the Church.

Lately, as I was reflecting on the wonderful honour conferred on Mary, I found myself wondering: what was it like for her?  How much did this young woman know or understand?  Sure, the Angel had told her before the conception of Jesus, that it was God'Son she would bring to birth.  What did that mean for her?  What with the birth, the nursing, the exile, the return to Nazareth, the bringing up of this son - did she always realize that she was in the constant presence of God?


Taking this image into my own life, I recall reading books and listening to lectures on the

subject of the Presence of God.  My favourite picture reminding me of the subject was that of St Catherine of Siena saying the Divine Office while walking with Jesus.  All of this inspires me to keep on trying to make the presence of God an integral part of my own life.


As I walked through life the words changed to "the Kingdom of Heaven is within".  This brought me to a deeper understanding of the constant presence of God, more akin to what it might have been like for Mary "who pondered many things in her heart".  Thus directing me inward towards that deep personal intimate relationship that God longs to have with each one of us.  Perhaps Mary really did understand after all!

Sr Dymphna Tipper, OP