www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology What place does the Theotokos have in your spiritual life?

I think of the Theotokos as the mother of Jesus Christ. When He was dying for me, because of my sins, giving His life for mine, He also gave me His mom to act as my spirtitual mom. So, I regard the Theotokos as my spiritual mom. And I am rather humbled by that, to say the least.

There are various prayers I say to venerate her, Western and Eastern.

For me, her person and role and lesson are best summarized in the Magnificat (from the Gospel according to St. Luke, 1:46 - 55).


Amen.

This prayer is said daily at Compline (both Small and Great) in the Byzantine Rite. I hadn't see the ascription to St Paul the Cenobite before. Thanks for posting it. I use this prayer almost daily when I say Small Compline. I know it in the Jordanville translation (from the Unabridged Horologion), which those who love traditional liturgical English (as I do) might like to see.


The Supplicatory Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos
O undefiled, untainted, uncorrupted, most pure, chaste Virgin, Thou Bride of God and Sovereign Lady, who didst unite the Word of God to mankind through thy most glorious birth giving, and hast linked the apostate nature of our race with the heavenly; who art the only hope of the hopeless, and the helper of the struggling, the ever-ready protection of them that hasten unto thee, and the refuge of all Christians: Do not shrink with loathing from me a sinner, defiled, who with polluted thoughts, words, and deeds have made myself utterly unprofitable, and through slothfulness of mind have become a slave to the pleasures of life. But as the Mother of God Who loveth mankind, show thy love for mankind and mercifully have compassion upon me a sinner and prodigal, and accept my supplication, which is offered to thee out of my defiled mouth; and making use of thy motherly boldness, entreat thy Son and our Master and Lord that He may be pleased to open for me the bowels of His lovingkindness and graciousness to mankind, and, disregarding my numberless offenses, will turn me back to repentance, and show me to be a tried worker of His precepts. And be thou ever present unto me as merciful, compassionate and well disposed; in the present life be thou a fervent intercessor and helper, repelling the assaults of adversaries and guiding me to salvation, and at the time of my departure taking care of my miserable soul, and driving far away from it the dark countenances of the evil demons; lastly, at the dreadful day of judgment delivering me from torment eternal and showing me to be an heir of the ineffable glory of thy Son and our God; all of which may I attain, O my Sovereign Lady, most holy Theotokos, in virtue of thine intercession and protection, through the grace and love to mankind of thine only begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, to Whom is due all glory, honor and worship, together with His unoriginate Father, and His Most Holy and good and life creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Fr David Straut

Alice, that is beautiful. One of the things I greatly love about the Greek Church is the celebration of the Paraklesis during the Dormition Fast, as well as the Akathist with Compline during the Great Fast. Her intercession and motherly compassion during a fast time to help us along in our struggle with metanoia is often overlooked.

A great Ukrainian Redemptorist archbishop and martyr of our Church, Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky, once preached that any parish with regular public devotion to the Mother of God will always be specially protected and blessed.

I do love the Moleben to the Mother of God, our version of the Paraklis, and try to serve it at least monthly even if a priest can't be there. We recently had a young man be deployed to Afghanistan, and he asked what service should be offered for supplication for his safety- I didn't hesitate and said, of course, the Moleben to the Mother of God.

I especially love the Canons to the Mother of God from the Octoechos at Small Compline, and try to pray those as our family prayer in the evening. The Supplicatory Canon to the Mother of God (the Small Paraklesis Canon) also has a special place in my prayer life, and while gathered in prayer once during one of our early summer Kansas tornadoes the winds abated during our prayer.

And then, of course, there are all of those wonderful Akathists - not only the "golden oldie" of St. Romanos but all the others for her feasts and icons...We fly to your protection...

p.s. As I recall the prayer at Small Compline is attributed to the Monk Paul of the Evergetis Monastery in Constantinople.

Wow, I really like this translation. I'm certainly no expert regarding historical ascriptions; the version that I posted above (and the reference to Paul the Cenobite) is from Alleluia Press' 1995 printing of +Joseph Raya's+ Byzantine Daily Worship.

-Chris

The Theotokos, to me, is the Loving and Gentle Queen of my heart. This December 27th is the fifth anniversary of my Act of Total Consecration to Jesus Living in Mary (De Montfort)into the hands of my Spiritual Father. Trying to live this consecration every day is a great influence and gives deep direction, comfort and guidance to my entire life. With deep humility and overwhelming love I have made De Montfort's and John Paul II's motto my own "Totus Tuus".
Silouan, Mary's monk

I also love the Marian Antiphons of the Western Church, especially the Salve Regina:

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V./ Pray for us O holy Mother of God,
R./ that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Fr David Straut

Bless you, Father. The "Hail Holy Queen" is one of my favorite prayers to Mary.

-- John

I don't know if I what I could write would be adequate enough to describe her place.