As a young boy I have a vivid memory of the first Marian Procession I attended at the local convent of Stella Maris in North Geelong. The candlelight movement of women in dark habits singing the Lourdes Hymn took me into a world where heaven touched earth and all tears were wiped away.
In my mother’s kitchen a small Icon of Our Lady of the Way sat alongside the detergent just above the sink where our daily dishes were washed. My grandmother was a member of the Legion of Mary and walked the streets of her neighbourhood to join families who prayed the rosary as the Fatima Statue moved from house to house. Each rosary with finish with a rousing chorus of Hail Queen of Heaven that echoed down the street
Whoopi Golberg brought a new generation of people the spirit of Marian Hynms and devotion spiced up and inviting with a freshness and adventure that reflected the reality of the young woman of Palestine more faithfully than the Living Parish Hymnal.
The most popular Marian prayer in Catholicism has been the Litany of Loreto. Its invocations of Mary under Biblical and popular titles has made it a feature of Catholic Spirituality in chant and languages
And just when we thought we had given Mary every conceivable title Pope Francis added a new one, Mother of the Church. As one who has been called “First Disciple” Mary also stands as a model for equality. For those of us who identify with the LGBTIQ faithful this feast offers another opportunity to acknowledge the spirituality of equality.
As an older Queer Catholic I continue the venerationof Mary in the Litany to which I have added invocations from my life and experience.
As well as the litany there is custom of decorating statues in popular culture with flowers and rosaries, and even money. I also continue this custom of bringing elements of my life such as the rainbow colours to decorate and honour the place of Mary in my spirituality.
In this month of May we invoke Mary, Mother of Equality, Pray For Us.
