Woman of Courage: Through Advent with Mary
God’s Word comes to earth, and a young woman makes a courageous decision. This series of reflections is not about theologies or traditions, it is about journeying with Mary of Nazareth, a real flesh-and-blood woman whose vulnerability and strength take us to the heart of the Nativity. While Mary’s story is uniquely hers, we will ponder how her experiences touch our own, as women, or just as human beings, and what we might learn about nurturing the holy within ourselves.
An audio reflection will be posted here every week, and there is more material to work with in written form. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on info@heartinpilgrimage.org.uk. The image used in connection with this retreat is a painting by Angus McEwan, the music is by Purple Planet.
A Short Introduction to the Series
Reflection 1: Invitation
Extras To read a BBC article exploring the secrets of Fra Angelico’s Annunciation painting (and see the painting in glorious colour), click here. To hear a recording of Sylvia Plath reading ‘Black Rook in Rainy Weather’, click here.
Reflection 2: Magnificat
Extras Many composers have written music for Mary’s Song, The Magnificat. Here are two contrasting versions. John Rutter’s Magnificat, here, is full of flourishes and joy, definitely one to listen to at Christmas with the fairy lights on and volume turned up! Arvo Pärt’s version, here, is sombre and meditative, but very beautiful too.
Reflection 3: Incarnation
Extras To see a version of the Holy Family painting by El Greco, click here. I saw a slightly different version in the Spanish Gallery, Bishop Auckland, which is a treasure trove of Spanish art in an unexpected place, well worth a look if you’re ever in the area! I recently came across this painting, The Newborn Child, by the 17th century painter Georges de La Tour, which gives a powerful sense of Christ as a newborn, Mary as a new mother, and (perhaps) the midwife who attended them.
Reflection 4: Treasuring
Extras If you are using the booklet, you might like to see the beautiful Madonna and Child by Murillo in colour, click here – that lives in the Museum of Fine Art in Seville. Also, a personal favourite, Rembrandt’s painting of Simeon here, from the National Museum in Stockholm. It was his last painting and remained unfinished at his death, which fells somehow appropriate!
And here is one more Madonna, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Madonna of the Yarnwinder, which is in Edinburgh in the National Gallery of Scotland. This painting has a dramatic history as it was stolen in 2003 from Drumlanrig Castle, the home of the Duke of Buccleuch. The story of how it was recovered is told in the BBC podcast The Missing Madonna, told by Olivia Graham, the daughter of one of the men involved in the mission to return it. This is not devotional material, but it is a great story – available on BBC Sounds or wherever you get podcasts.
Finally, I’d like to share this, which is a recording of musician Joshua Aaron singing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, live in the Tower of David in Jerusalem in 2019. My heart goes out, this Christmas, to all involved in the current conflict, and perhaps it is a helpful way to frame a prayer when so much seems hopeless. You can watch and listen here.