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History of Maria Bambina

The simulacrum (image) was modeled in wax in 1735 by Sister Isabella Chiara Fornari (1697-1744), superior of the Poor Clare Sisters in Todi, Italy. Life size waxen images of both the Infant Jesus and the Infant Mary were widely venerated during the counter-reformation (16th century).

Bishop Alberico Simonetta brought the waxen image of Maria Bambina to Milan on his return to his native town in 1738. A year or so after his death the Capuchin sisters of the Monastery of St. Maria degli Angeli obtained from his brother the original Maria Bambina. These sisters were entrusted with the image because they were dedicated to the education of the youth and to the teaching of Catholic doctrine. The Capuchin Sisters soon became fervent devotees of the mystery of the Nativity of Mary.

During the suppression of religious congregations under Emperor Joseph II and Napoleon in 1810, the image was in the custody of Sister Barbara Viazzoli, the last Capuchin Sister who had the image in her keeping. She took it with her to the ex-monastery of the Canonichesse Lateranensi in Via dell’ Annunciato where some sisters lived together in private.

Upon her death it was given to the pastor of the St. Marco Church, Fr. Luigi Bosisio who in turn entrusted it to Mother Superior Teresa Bosio of the Sisters of Charity at the Ciceri Hospital in 1842. On April 24,1876 the waxen image was brought to its current location at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity.

During this time, devotion to Maria Bambina was mostly limited to the sisters and novices within the religious community. The image was usually exposed in the novitiate and moved to the chapel only on the Nativity of Mary (September 8th) and during the Octave (8-day period of observance including the feast day and the 7 following days). Time and events left their mark on the wax. The face became discolored and unattractive, so much so that “it was more likely to extinguish devotion than to awaken it.” It was then removed from the Novitiate and was placed in a “large chest of drawers”. Each year, it was taken from the chest of drawers and brought to the chapel and displayed only on the Nativity of Mary and during the Octave. [snip] click here for a complete history.

Go to The Maria Bambina website for prayers and devotions.

Happy birthday Blessed Mother, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

“God’s mercy endures forever.”

Last week I wrote a post discussing the idea that there is a limit to God’s patience  with the sins of men - examples in scripture attest to that.  Nevertheless it can be a very disconcerting thought for people genuinely concerned for their salvation - or the salvation of loved ones.  What is necessary is for the soul to have confidence in God’s mercy, and as St. Benedict and other saints have often repeated, “NEVER despair of God’s mercy.”  As the Psalmist says, “His mercy endures forever.”  No sin is so great that his mercy is not greater still.

Divine Mercy.

In his revelations on the Divine Mercy to St. Faustina, our Lord is very clear about these matters.  I will post a few things he had to say about his unfathomable mercy below.  The excerpts are from the saint’s diary, so I’ll note the paragraph in case you would like to reference the context of the quote. 

1588 - I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to my Merciful Heart.  I use punishment when they themselves force me to do so; my hand is reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice.  Before the Day of Justice I am sending the Day of Mercy. 

998 - I am giving mankind the last hope of salvation; that is, recourse to my mercy.

1146 (39) - Let the greatest sinners place their trust in my mercy.  They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of my mercy.  My daughter, write about my mercy towards tormented souls.  Souls that make an appeal to my mercy delight me.  To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask.  I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to my compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in my unfathomable and inscrutable mercy.  Write: before I come as just Judge, I first open wide the door of my mercy.  He who refuses to pass through the door of my mercy must pass through the door of my justice…

Thoughts on death and dying…

As many Catholics know, some people insist that Our Lady did not die - that she was raptured into heaven or something.  They get mixed up on the Virgin Birth and the Immaculate Conception as well - those mysteries are not the same thing either.

So yeah, Our Lady did die, as Henry Karlson from Vox Nova told me; “I’ve had people tell me, since it says dormition, it means she is sleeping now, didn’t die — showing how literal they are with the word, not realizing how it is used in Scripture to indicate what we normally call death.”

Today’s reading from Ezekiel.

Henry makes these things clear in his post on the Dormition, but for my sola scriptura readers, I want to mention in simpler terms what I think he means by the scriptural understanding of death.  Providentially, today’s first reading at Mass explains it quite well.  First of all, in the reading from Ezekiel the Lord begins by saying:  “As I live” - therefore we know, and as Scripture affirms, God is the God of the living.  Then after further instructing the house of Israel on individual responsibility for sin and calling his people to conversion, the Lord says;  ”Why should you die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord God.  Return and live!” - Ezekiel 18: 30-32.  Since all men die a natural death, we understand clearly that the Lord is referring to “spiritual death” in this passage. 

The falling asleep - what we normally call death.

Henry explains it so much better than I could, this is what he wrote:  “For it shows us, through Mary, how biological death and eternity were meant to be related. Her death led directly to her glorification; her innocence did not undermine biological death, but rather, included it, for biological death is not contrary to purity. Sadly, her dormition has been misunderstood by many in the West.  Some believe that she did not die, despite what Catholic tradition has consistently said on the matter.  There are two reasons for this: they do not understand the implications of the immaculate conception, and they misread the declaration of the assumption in Munificentissimus Deus.”

“The first mistake comes from the confusion of biological with spiritual death; they think that if Mary is without sin, she cannot die, since sin is what brings death. However, the death made by sin is spiritual death, not biological. Mary’s death does not lead to spiritual ruin, but glorification. It leads to her eternal glory, and makes final her place in the heavenly kingdom. Indeed, it is surprising that anyone could ever suggest that those without sin cannot biologically die - because, of course, the whole point of Christianity is that Jesus, without sin, died.” - On the Dormition

Links:

Pius XII: Munificentissimus Deus - Defining the Dogma of the Assumption

Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe.

“Willingly accept every opportunity for humbling yourself.  Don’t be offended at a harsh word, an imperious tone of voice, not being respected as much as you would like to be.  Welcome occasions of being disregarded and humiliated, first with patience, then willingly, without raising any difficulties, and finally with joy.”  - St. Maximilian Kolbe

His banner over me is love! - Song of Songs

Art from a must read post on Vultus Christi.

 ”In me is all grace of the way and the truth.”

Today is the Carmelite feast of Our Lady, Mother of Divine Grace, which concludes the old octave of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

This feast is full of joy for me, honoring Our Lady as the Mother of Divine Grace; since she is the Mother of the Son of God, the Author of Grace - as Mother of God, she is rightly venerated as Mother of Divine Grace.

Evidence of Protestant influences.

In the West, we continue to suffer the effects of the Protestant Reformation as regards Marian devotion, this despite all that Vatican II said about Our Lady, as well as subsequent Papal encyclicals and various Bishop’s pastoral statements.  Since the Council, theologians and academics are careful to emphasize the Christological character of Marian devotion, which should be a given for any devout Catholic, yet seems to be more directed towards appeasing Protestants and those critical of the veneration given by Catholics to Our Lady.

The Protestant influence is so embedded in the contemporary consciousness, that it seems Marian devotion continues to be de-emphasized to a some degree - especially in the United States.  This despite the example of the profound devotion of Pope John Paull II, various Marian movements in the Church, and even reports of numerous apparitions throughout the world.

Making Mary like ourselves.

In fact, oftentimes when we hear a homily on Our Lady it is usually only in connection with a major solemnity, and it  can sometimes sound more like an apology or “putting Mary in her place” rather than inspiring devotion to Our Lady.  On the other hand, the homily may focus upon feminist issues and how Mary exemplifies the ideal woman, etc..  Perhaps this type of homily is not bad in itself, since it is necessary to inculcate authentic Catholic teaching amongst the faithful.  Although, while previous eras spoke glowingly of the Blessed Virgin’s prerogatives and glories, today we reduce her to mirror ourselves.

If one looks at contemporary representations of Our Lady, one example being the statue above the entrance to the new Los Angeles Cathedral, one can see what I mean.  Our Lady is depicted with shorn hair, more a type of the modern, liberated woman.  A similarly pedestrian, bronze figure stands outside the parish Church I attend.  Neither of these inspire devotion, much less convey the awesome dignity of the Mother of God.  Though an ordinary woman, Our Lady is always elevated somewhat from ourselves, since she is the Immaculate Conception - perfectly preserved from all stain of sin and it’s consequences.  We are not.

The necessity of devotion to Our Lady.

When we contrast these post-Conciliar ”trends” with what the Fathers, the Doctors, and mystics of the Church have written regarding Our Lady, our ‘protestantized’ sensibilities may react as if we are reading doctrines verging on heresy or paganism.  Consequently, devout Catholics often find themselves defending long standing devotions such as the Scapular of Mt. Carmel, the Miraculous Medal, and the Rosary, from fellow Catholics, even priests, who suggest such things are superstitious. 

Such misunderstanding is tragic, since Our Mother of Divine Grace, is indeed the Mediatrix of all Grace - no apologies necessary, no need to explain that Christ, the Author of Grace, is the one Mediator who willed that Divine Grace come through a simple Virgin.  St. Bernard writes, “Let us not imagine that we obscure the glory of the Son by the great praise we lavish on the Mother; for the more she is honored the greater is the glory of her Son.” - ”Salve Regina” - St. Alphonsus Liguori 

St. Alphonsus on Our Lady.

“In the office appointed for feasts of Our Lady, the Church, applying the words of Ecclesiasticus to The Blessed Virgin, gives us to understand that in her we find all hope.  “In me is all hope of life and of virtue”  In Mary is every grace.  “In me is all grace of the way and the truth.”  In Mary, finally, we shall find life and eternal salvation:  “Who finds me finds life, and draws salvation from the Lord.”  Surely, expressions such as these sufficiently prove that we require the intercession of Mary.” - “Salve Regina” - St. Alphonsus

“Come over to me all of you and you will be filled with my fruits.”- Sirach 24:18

“And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus!” - Luke 1:42

I have loved today’s feast from my earliest youth, I was only 4 years old when I became acquainted with the scapular of Mt. Carmel, and therefore, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

I also love this image of Our Lady.  Thanks to Elena for posting it.   

Our Lady’s habit.

As Catholics we are extremely fortunate that Our Heavenly Mother offers to clothe us in her very own habit, the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mt Carmel.  What a wonderful grace it is to wear her holy habit, the saints of the Carmelite Order all attest to this, and the order has graciously shared this privilege with the laity throughout the centuries.

During a difficult period in the Carmelite Order’s history, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel appeared to St. Simon Stock and gave him the Brown Scapular, which became part of the Carmelite habit. Lay people are privileged to wear a smaller version of this habit even today. It consists of two pieces of brown wool connected by cords that one wears over their shoulders, a piece in front on the chest and a piece resting upon the back. Our Lady attached great significance to this “livery” and promised that those who die wearing it shall never suffer eternal fire. It is one of the most highly indulgenced sacramentals in the Church, one that intimately connects the person wearing it to the Carmelite order. In addition it is an outward sign of one’s consecration to Our Lady as well as a guarantee of her protection and patronage - very much like the religious, or monastic habit is to the consecrated soul.

The scapular or “schema” as the monastic habit.

The monastic habit dates back to the early desert fathers; in fact, St. Pachomios (+346) seems to have codified it in addition to establishing the cenobitic life for monks.  It was called the ’schema’ which comprised the scapular over the tunic.  An angel wearing the schema appeared to Pachomios and instructed him that by the wearing of the habit the monk will overcome the temptations of the flesh. 

This story aside, heavenly inspired religious habits with scapulars are common to most religious orders, whether in the East or the West.  The scapular itself is otherwise believed to have originally been used as a work garment, similar to an apron, except it was worn over the shoulders, or the scapula - hence, the name.  Nevertheless, the legend associated with St. Pachomios suggests otherwise.  Some contemporary western monastics often seem more willing to offer distinctly practical and utilitarian origins to the monastic habit, as opposed to spiritual or supernatural purposes, perhaps it allows the habit to be more easily dispensed with as a religious essential. 

The gift of Our Lady’s habit.

In western tradition, various legends hold that Our Lady herself conferred habits upon various religious orders, which includes the Carmelites.  Through the person of St. Simon Stock, the Carmelites received this addition to their habit in an apparition of the Blessed Virgin to the saint.  Our Lady promised, that to those who persevered in wearing this habit, that is, persevering in the vocation it signified, such a person would enjoy her special patronage and protection, especially at the hour of death, and she would preserve them from the eternal fires of Hell. 

The Carmelite order in turn extended this privilege to the faithful, promoting the devotion of wearing a portion of the scapular of Mt. Carmel.  A confraternity was established with special regulations, and the scapular, devoutly worn, united the wearer to the Order in a special way, enjoying many benefits and privileges associated with the good works of the Order.     

Links:

Catechesis for the Brown Scapular

The novena begins today.

Or tomorrow if you want to end on the feast itself.  Remember, novenas originated with Our Lady and the Apostles, gathered together in the Upper Room, prayerfully preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit.  One may use formal novena prayers, the prayer for the Mass of the feast of Mt. Carmel, or as many do, make a novena of rosaries accompanied by a votive prayer to Our Lady of Carmel.  Novenas may be as simple or as elaborate as one feels drawn to perform. 

Simplicity and detachment is always a good attitude when one undertakes a novena.  I know someone who used to fast and recite many rosaries and prayers and offices and litanies in preparation for the feast day, and when the day arrived he felt let down when”nothing happened”.  (He had expected some kind of reward for being so “generous”.  Silly boy!  His method is sometimes referred to as “seeking oneself”.)

Elena from Tea At Trianon has posted a very nice Novena Prayer To Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel.