In the mid-1980s, when Eric Clapton was going through dark personal struggles and loss, he wrote a beautiful song, Holy Mother. It is a prayer of surrender which expresses his conversion from being self-centered to being centered in the mystery of life, God, and connecting to others in efforts that contribute to society’s good rather than those that seek personal satisfaction. His lyrics mirror the sentiment of Saint Luke’s Gospel that inaugurated the Advent Season in which he tells of stars falling from the sky, chaos, fear, and deep sadness. In the midst and mire of it all, Clapton longs for peace in the loving arms of our Blessed Mother.
Advent provides a sacred opportunity for us to grow closer to the dear lady who was chosen to be the mother of Christ. In the 1920s, Mary Dixon Thayer wrote the poem, Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue, that offers a child’s perspective to our relationship with her: “Lovely Lady dressed in blue, teach me how to pray. God was just your little boy; tell me what to say. Did you lift him up sometimes gently on your knee? Did you ever sing to him the way my momma does for me? Did you hold his hand at night, and did you ever try telling stories of the world? Oh, and did he cry? Do you think he cares if I tell him things, little things that happen…Oh, Lovely Lady dressed in blue, teach me how to pray. God was just your little boy, and you know the way.” From the innocence of childhood to the harsh reality of death, destruction, and despair, Blessed Mary is near to give us comfort, consolation, and hope.
Through the most popular Marian prayer, Ave Maria, we recite the greeting of the Angel Gabrielle at the Annunciation and that of her relative Elizabeth at the Visitation, followed by a plea that Mary be with us through our life and especially at our death. In The Memorare, we reach out again, asking that she will remember us before God’s throne because she is always there for us: “…never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided…so inspired by this confidence we fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins, our Mother…” These prayers beseech her to bring us closer to her maternal grace. Go there during this Advent season, a time to journey with her in faith, for she who brought Christ into our world the first time can assist us who seek to bring Him into our world again, knowing that it is part of our earthly purpose and part of the Christmas miracle.
In The Beatles’ hit song, Let It Be, we get enfolded by the grace of our heavenly mother, the Queen of Peace, who instills a sense of acceptance into us. “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness, she is standing right in front of me, whispering words of wisdom, let it be.” Her life is a story of surrender which begins with Advent’s opening scene in which she offers her fiat, her affirmation to God, her willingness to participate in salvation, even as it entails tremendous suffering. It was the first of many times that she would submit to the divine will. Clapton’s spiritual rebirth was a transition from human corruption and despair to trust in sacred intervention through maternal compassion and love. Perhaps by allowing ourselves to be held in Our Blessed Mother’s loving arms we can be inspired to also surrender to God’s providence in this season of unforeseen blessings.
