Sunday 16 May 2010

Madonna and Child



As we move on with images of Mary in and around the Cathedral, we can look at some the images we have of her with her child. The statue in the picture is a particulalrly nice one, of Mary holding her infant Son. It lives in Cathedral House; sadly it is a little too small to be used with an impact in the Cathedral, standing only about 24 inches high. The antiphon used after Vepsers from Advent until the feast of Candlemas (2nd February) puts into words the feelings this statue invokes:

"Loving Mother of the Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea, assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again. To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator, yet remained a virgin after as before, you who received Gabriel's joyful greeting, have pity on us, poor sinners."