A Mother who Prays

Meditating on the second Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, I found myself in awe at the scene in Cana (John 2:3-4):

When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever He tells you.”

The story goes on to recount how the servers followed Jesus’ every instruction, and the wedding party had the best wine at the conclusion of the feast.

What intrigued me during my meditation was the role of Mary as an INTERCESSOR. Through her request, Jesus produced his first recorded miracle. The Church has a long-standing tradition asking Mary to intercede for her needs. For what son would not listen to his mother? And so we honor her as the Mother of our Lord, with prayers for help, and song.

Santa Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Original German

Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild,
Erhöre deiner Kinder Flehen,
im Tal der Tränen sei uns Schild
lass mein Gebet zu dir hinwehen.
Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen,
dein Sternenmantel deckt uns zu.
O Jungfrau, siehe unsere Sorgen,
O schenke unsern Herzen Ruh!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! Reine Magd!
Wir wollen gläubig dir vertrauen
du süsse Jungfrau, unverzagt
voll Hoffnung zu dir aufwärts schauen,
und still uns Gottes Willen beugen,
da uns dein heilger Trost anweht.
O Jungfrau, wolle hold dich neigen
dem Kind, das bittend zu dir fleht.
Ave Maria!

Direct English translation
Ave Maria! Maiden mild,
Heed your children’s prayers,
In the valley of tears, be our shield
Let my prayer waft to you.
We sleep safely until morning,
Your cloak of stars covers us.
O Maiden, see our worries,
O give peace to our hearts!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! Pure maidservant!
We want to trust in you faithfully
You, sweet maiden, undaunted
Full of hope, to you gaze upward,
And calmly bend God’s Will to us,
That your holy solace may drift to us.
O Maiden, full of grace, tend to us
The child, that suppliantly entreats you.
Ave Maria!

Translations from: Ellens dritter Gesang