Mary, "Spouse of the Holy Spirit"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The title given to Mary as “Spouse of the Holy Spirit” was first presented to me in my high school religion class by the same Dominican Nun who introduced me to St. Louis De Montfort’s treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” – no coincidence there!!! This morning in posting on this treasure of Catholic Literature I was reminded again, of how important it is to avail myself of the wisdom God has given to His saints. Allow me to post one paragraph as example:

When the Holy Spirit, her spouse, finds Mary in a soul, he hastens there and enters fully into it. He gives himself generously to that soul according to the place it has given to his spouse. One of the main reasons why the Holy Spirit does not work striking wonders in souls is that he fails to find in them a sufficiently close union with his faithful and inseparable spouse. I say “inseparable spouse”, for from the moment the substantial love of the Father and the Son espoused Mary to form Jesus, the head of the elect, and Jesus in the elect, he has never disowned her, for she has always been faithful and fruitful.( Chapter 1, paragraph #35 in De Montfort’s True Devotion)

By God’s Grace may open our hearts to Jesus through Mary. May the Holy Spirit work marvels in us, that like her we may bring Jesus into the darkness of this world, to shine His Light upon us all.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love.
Mary our Mother, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.
Jesus we trust in You!

 

[Spyridon]

Wisdom!

Let us attend.

Thou Beloved Daughter of the Father, pray for us.
Thou Holy Spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.
Thou Blessed Virgin Mother of the Son, pray for us.

O Mary, more honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the Very Theotokos, thee do we magnify!

Rejoice, thou bride unwedded!
Rejoice, thou Ark of the New Covenant!
Rejoice, thou New Eve and Mother of all Faithful Orthodox Christians!

O God, through the prayers of the Mother of God, and all the Angels and Saints, have mercy on us!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Spiridon,

Thanks so much for your reply. The Eastern Liturgy is so rich in its many references and devotions to Mary. How I long for the complete re-unification of the Eastern and Western Catholic Church! I remember St. John Paul II saying something like we need to breathe through both lungs!

Mary has been compared to the air we breathe and so St. JPII’s analogy: East and West as the two lungs through which we need to breathe is very appropriate especially in regard to our devotion to Mary, the Very Theotokos, and her union with God.

Truly, as you wrote:

Thou Beloved Daughter of the Father, pray for us.
Thou Holy Spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.
Thou Blessed Virgin Mother of the Son, pray for us.