This photograph was taken inside the Tomb of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem. An elderly priest prays up front. Perhaps he is the chapel's caretaker or his group of pilgrims has gone off for lunch and he has stayed behind for some minutes of solitude. But look, there is room on the bench for us. I expect he would be glad for our presence. Here is the prayer I would offer. You can, of course, create and offer your own.
To the Mother of God on the Feast of Her Assumption
Your Easter, O Lady,
Your mid-August rising —
Nature's last great push of
flower and fern,
grass and leaf.
What have you left behind for us —
a tunic?
a slipper?
a veil?
a name for the perfect white rose?
But this,
transcendent perfume,
a secret scent
from your redolent tomb.
First among us,
we're scent-d too —
baptism chrism,
born of breath,
petal and spice,
taking us beyond the physical
to a place without vanity,
enjoining us to fragrance the earth
with all that's
highest and
best —
like your own maternal kindness,
your eyes of love compassionate,
your patting the bench,
drawing us close
for a heart to heart prayer
to heal our weary world.
