Wednesday, 20 December 2023

Stella coeli exstirpavit

 

Deeper into mediaeval Marian theology than would be usual for my approach to Christmas, although my post about Deborah’s death three year’s ago today dwelt on the Magnificat being read as Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent that day.

I’m newly caught up on the periphery of the Lincoln Mystery Players ahead of two performances of the Christmas part of their sequence, a mixture of material with biblical roots and apocryphal roots. 

So the Cherry Tree Carol is to be acted out.  Joseph saying ‘he who got you with child’ can pick cherries for Mary, and the tree (a stage hand – me!) meekly bowing down to give her the direct access to them which she desired.

And the singing of the Latin ‘Prayer in time of pandemic’ which I’ve had a go at rendering in English thus:

 

Star of heaven,

rise in the warring constellations

whose conjunctions

dictate our deathly ulcerations,

and stop the fight.

 

Gracious Lady,

the first taste of an apple seeded

invasive death,

so, suckling the Lord, you weeded

that great plague out.

 

Star of the sea,

knowing your son, who honours you,

will not say ‘no’,

beseech him now to make all things new,

pandemic free.

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