The Mary Altar and The Altar at St. Raphael's Church, Berkeley, CA

THE FEMININE ASPECT OF DIVINITY

The Liberal Catholic Church recognizes and pays deep homage to the maternal aspect of divinity, the mother-nature of God. The latter is looked upon as all-pervading, unfathomable, divine mystery. It brings forth and nourishes all created life. Its highest expression is the World Mother as represented by the Holy Lady Mary whose tender care for all women and children and for all who suffer supplements the divine ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. This divine principle is shown forth on earth in the sanctity of life and the mystery of birth and by the sacrifice and love of human motherhood which call forth our deepest reverence and respect.

The Rosary is generally associated with the tradition of Roman Catholic Christianity, but because the rosary method is excellent for the development of the spiritual life, there are rosary practices in two other of the world's great religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. The Rosary is, in fact, valuable esoteric spiritual development method - a method which places in the hand of the Rosarian (the Rosary user) a process of receiving angelic aid and a process for attunement to the Seven Rays.

To Learn more about,
or to obtain a Ray Rosary

The reciting of the Angelus is a short devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ and to Our Holy Lady Mary. The name is derived from the opening versicle in Latin, "Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae."

The Angelus has been in use in the Western Church since about the thirteenth century and basically consists of the recitation of three Hail Mary's, preceded by short versicles and followed by a collect, intended to remind us of the mystery of the Incarnation. The church bells are rung three times for each Hail Mary and nine times for the collect.

-from "Services of Our Lady," St. Alban Press

THE FIRST HYMN

Mary the Dawn, but Christ the perfect Day:
Mary the Gate, but Christ the heavenly Way.
Mary the Root, but Christ the mystic Vine:
Mary the Grape, but Christ the sacred Wine.
Mary the Corn-sheaf, Christ the living Bread:
Mary the Rose-tree, Christ the Rose blood-red.
Mary the Fount, but Christ the cleansing Flood:
Mary the Chalice, Christ the holy Blood.
Mary the Temple, Christ the TempleÕs Lord:
Mary the Shrine, but Christ its God adored.
Mary the Beacon, Christ the HavenÕs Rest:
Mary the Mirror, Christ the Vision blest. Amen.

-from "Services of Our Lady," St. Alban Press

Holy Lady Mary, Mother of the world, Queen of Love and Compassion, with all our hearts we pour out our love and devotion at Thy feet; and we offer ourselves as channels of Thy wondrous tenderness, as agents of Thy holy work, that we may grow to be like Thee our Glorious Mother.

O holy Mother, Queen of our hearts,
we dedicate our lives to thy service. Ave Maria.

-from "Services of Our Lady," St. Alban Press


Deaconess Mellie Brown Leads the 'Homage To Our Lady' Service at St. Raphael's Church in Berkeley, CA

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