Ursuline Academy - Yearbook (Cumberland, MD)

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Mary, Our Queen We Hnd Mary, Our Queen, associated in all the mysteries of the life of Christ on earth. Devotion to Mary can lead us in only one direction and to one only goal. The sweet Mother of God can teach us merely what she herself has learnt on earth, namely, to seek Iesus and to remain in His presence through joys and sorrows, unto the ultimate triumph. Such is the epitome of her life and such is her example to the generations that call her blessed. Mary's life onlearth, even though we know it only in fragments, gives us sufficient indication and 'direction for the attainment of that end to which all men are called, namely eternal blessedness. ' Iesus always had a place for Mary in His life on earth and in His everlasting glory. During all the years of His short earthly career she was with Him coming forth for our notice and instruction at critical moments. Thus when the Gentile world received its first introduction to Iesus Christ, the seal of God's will was upon the eventful meeting. He had just been born in the stable of Bethlehem, when, led by the spirit of God working directly in their hearts, the Magi came to adore Him. And the Evangelist records that they found the Child with Mary His Mother. Even when in the course of His thirty years with Mary, Iesus was lost to her for only the brief span of three days, she taught us how to seek Him, sorrowing indeed, yet with perseverance night and day. During the three years of the public ministry when Iesus was about His Father's businessf, Mary stood in the background waiting for the dreadful moment when she again went forth to seek Him this time in the sorrowful way of the cross. It was a narrow way but room enough for this mother of Iesus. And even when His space on earth was shrunken to the last narrow upright and crossbeam of the shameful gibbet in the ignominious place of execution on the Hill of Calvary, and when the number of those who remained near was reduced to one man and three women, there stood at the foot of the cross of Iesus, Mary, His Mother. She was always with Him because thereunto was she called by God, it was her mission. Mary, Our Mother Mary remained not only after the public life of jesus had commenced, she remained likewise after His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. For twenty years after these events, so traditions tell us, she lived among men. What was her mission then? Never had she followed a course separate from that of her Divine Son. VV here was that Son now? In heaven full surely where He sitteth on the right hand of God, but also upon the earth, the Church His true living body, the Eucharist His very flesh and blood. There must we look for Mary, with the Church and with the Eucharist. Mary was ever near the Eucharistic presence of Iesus. The intimate presence of Mary in the life of the Church dating from her own mortal days on earth continued after her assumption into heaven. The love of the faithful for this Mother of all the redeemed has never slackened. VVhen the great Council of Ephesus had set the official seal of the Church on the glorious title, MOTHER OF GOD, her mission among men shone forth more brightly than ever. Immediately as by divine inspiration from the assembled bishops the prayer HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, PRAY FOR US SINNERS, NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH, passed on to the thronging multitude, and rose a majestic refrain, Wave on wave, over the whole earth, passing and repassing through the centuries. Without newspaper or radio that word spread over the world, wherever the name of Iesus was preached, and where it fell it remained rooted in the hearts of a grate- ful people. Devotion to Mary will never end because the life, teaching in short, the mystery of Christ, will never end. Mary is associated with all the mysteries of Christ's life: Prophecy, Incarnation, Na- tivity, Redemption, the birth of His Mystical Body. She received back in sacramental form the very body which she alone had given to the Son of God. As long, then, as the Church remains, as long as the Eucharist remains, Mary will be associated with these living realities and so long will the faith, hope, and love of men look to her for its beginning and its end.

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The Month of May O welcome, welcome beauteous Spring! Hail lovely Month of May! How bright and sweet the How'rs you bring' Your warbling birds how gay! Our Father sends thee from above, With gifts so fair, so gay, To fire His children's hearts with love: All-welcome then, sweet May! Our Father smiles on nature's face, In countless blooming flowers, And draws us with the charms,-which grace Our fields and fragrant bowers. But O that fairest flow'r, that shows His love in ev'ry scene- The Queen of How'rs, the Mystic Rose, Our Mother dear-our Queenln First Attendant Rose Mary Mathias , Vlsgflfttfm gglalt I ya

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