"Mary, Mother of God" is still my favorite title for the Blessed Mother, and we passed the evening with hymns, the Holy Rosary, and our traditional tower of cupcakes for Our Lady. Mary is the "Tower of David" and "Tower of Ivory," and this year, instead of blue, we frosted our little cakes in pure white, a tribute to her spotless purity. Gumdrop flowers represent her divine Son, the Flower of Jesse, reminding us that Mary is truly the Mother of God.
Yesterday, my friend Willa wrote:
Dear Alice, Many, many blessings on your Cottage. May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire. And may God ever continue to hold you in the palm of His hand! (paraphrase of Irish blessing -- it seemed to fit you and your beautiful blog!)
I repeat this dear message to introduce the Christmas gift my husband gave to me this year, an Irish Blessings Cottage teapot inscribed on the bottom with the words to another version of this heartfelt prayer, one that was the final blessing at our wedding:
May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
I love this image, not only because it shows off the teapot, but because it seems to capture the humble Domestic Church (the homes each and every one of us tend and nurture) with the Mother of God and her Son watching over it, seeing it through its day to day joys and struggles. This is a happy thought at the outset of a brand new year.
And so, along with Willa, I repeat the prayer: May God hold all of you dear ones in the palm of His hand today and always!
Alice, this is so pretty.
I'm with you. Theotokos is my favorite title of Mary as well.
Posted by: Katherine in TX | January 02, 2007 at 09:43 AM
What a beautiful way to honor The Mother of God.
And I just want you to know that I'm so blessed by the way you gently encourage me and so many others to "tend and nuture".
As always, Alice, many thanks and hugs to you.
Posted by: Ann C. | January 02, 2007 at 11:39 AM
This is beautiful.
May God bless you all, dear Alice, with a blessed New Year.
Posted by: Cay in La. | January 02, 2007 at 06:38 PM
Just beautiful!!! Another inspired idea.
Posted by: Heather - NY | January 02, 2007 at 08:07 PM
I love your new teapot. What a perfect gift for the queen of tea! The cupcakes are very inviting, as well.
I agree, "Mother of God" is the very best title for Mary.
Posted by: Suzanne Temple | January 02, 2007 at 08:15 PM
How beautiful, Alice! Happy New year to you and your wonderful family!
Posted by: Suzanne | January 02, 2007 at 09:25 PM
Alice,
I peeked in here from Dawn's By Sun and Candlelight and I'm sure glad I did. Such a loving reverence for our Mother and the Mother of God.
Thanks for taking the time to show us.
Posted by: Julia S. | January 03, 2007 at 09:22 PM