Mary's Mantle

[barbfromtucson]

I’ve been in prayer groups and such where they’ve asked Mary to put her mantle over the group or person or building.

This is probably one of the dumbest questions ever asked, but I’m going to ask it!

I’ve always heard about Mary’s mantle, but I have never had a clear idea or picture of what it actually is! I picture it in my imagination as like a cloak or blanket. Could someone give me the exact definition or explanation of it?

Thanks!

Barbara

 

[NHInsider]

You have a pretty good picture-mantle is another word for cloak. In the Bible it sometimes also represents a person’s God-given power or authority (see Elijah, who rolled his mantle and used it to divide water the way Moses’ staff parted the sea, and Elisha, who received Elijah’s mantle when Elijah was taken up into heaven).

So the image of being “covered with Mary’s Mantle” combines the humanly comforting idea of someone wrapping their cloak around you and the recognition of God’s grace covering and protecting you.

 

[FCEGM]

I’ve been in prayer groups and such where they’ve asked Mary to put her mantle over the group or person or building.

This is probably one of the dumbest questions ever asked, but I’m going to ask it!

I’ve always heard about Mary’s mantle, but I have never had a clear idea or picture of what it actually is! I picture it in my imagination as like a cloak or blanket. Could someone give me the exact definition or explanation of it?

Thanks!

Barbara

Barbara, if you will go to this site and click on the different paintings shown you will see various depictions of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with her mantle over those who seek her aid.

olmlaycarmelites.org/gallery/olmc/

 

[FrDavid96]

I’ve been in prayer groups and such where they’ve asked Mary to put her mantle over the group or person or building.

This is probably one of the dumbest questions ever asked, but I’m going to ask it!

I’ve always heard about Mary’s mantle, but I have never had a clear idea or picture of what it actually is! I picture it in my imagination as like a cloak or blanket. Could someone give me the exact definition or explanation of it?

Thanks!

Barbara

Barbara,

It’s a poetic reference. It doesn’t mean literally being covered in a mantle (cloak, blanket, etc) but it means being under her protection and guidance. There are a lot of artistic ways of expressing this, but it’s not something to be taken literally.

It’s like asking the Blessed Mother to “take us under her wings” It doesn’t mean that she has appendages covered in feathers (of course not). Both of these are simply ways of expressing her protection.

 

[centurionguard]

Barbara,

It’s a poetic reference. It doesn’t mean literally being covered in a mantle (cloak, blanket, etc) but it means being under her protection and guidance. There are a lot of artistic ways of expressing this, but it’s not something to be taken literally.

It’s like asking the Blessed Mother to “take us under her wings” It doesn’t mean that she has appendages covered in feathers (of course not). Both of these are simply ways of expressing her protection.

…
Most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, Mary, would that I could be in Heaven,
there to contemplate the honours rendered to thee
by the Most Holy Trinity and by the whole Heavenly Court!
But since I am still a pilgrim in this vale of tears,
receive from me, thy unworthy servant and a poor sinner,
the most sincere homage and the most perfect act of vassalage
a human creature can offer thee. In thy Immaculate Heart,
pierced with so many swords of sorrow, I place today my poor soul forever;
receive me as a partaker in thy dolors, and never suffer that I should depart from that Cross
on which thy only begotten Son expired for me. With thee, O Mary,
I will endure all the sufferings, contradictions, infirmities,
with which it will please thy Divine Son to visit me in this life.
All of them I offer to thee, in memory of the Dolors
which thou didst suffer during thy life, that every thought of my mind,
every beating of my heart may henceforward be an act of compassion to thy Sorrows,
and of complacency for the glory thou now enjoyest in Heaven.

Since then, O Dear Mother, I now compassionate thy Dolors, and rejoice in seeing thee glorified, do thou also have compassion on me, and reconcile me to thy Son Jesus,
that I may become thy true and loyal son (daughter);
come on my last day and assist me in my last agony,
even as thou wert present at the Agony of thy Divine Son Jesus
that from this painful exile I may go to Heaven, there to be made partaker of thy glory.
Amen+