While this article is not technically a poem, it was originally formatted using Centering - naturally, the AD much-to-be-desired Editor DESTROYS all of that.

OH - yeah, almost forgot - in the ancient Hebrew language Mary was really MIRIAM.

Some old song lyrics:

"Mary's A Grand Old Name" (1906)
Music and Lyrics by George M. Cohan

In Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway (1906) the simple housemaid Mary explains how she got her name – and tells why she is happy to have it. The song was introduced by Broadway favorite Fay Templeton.

This is the lyric as it appears in the original sheet music, published by F.A. Mills (NY) in 1905 – it appears the sheet music was printed before the show opened on Broadway.

Verse I
My mother's name was Mary,
She was so good and true ;
Because her name was Mary,
She called me Mary too.
She wasn't gay or airy,
But plain as she could be;
I hate to meet a fairy
Who calls herself Marie.

Refrain
For it is Mary, Mary,
Plain as any name can be.
But with propriety, society
Will say Marie.
But it was Mary, Mary,
Long before the fashions came,
And there is something there
That sounds so square,
It's a grand old name.

Verse 2
Now, when her name is Mary,
There is no falseness there;
When to Marie she'll vary,
She'll surely bleach her hair.
Though Mary's ordinary,
Marie is fair to see;
Don't ever fear sweet Mary,
Beware of sweet Marie.

(Repeat Refrain)

MARY - A GRAND OLD NAME!

Mother Mary

© - Tom Hyland - 10-01-08

“Hail Mary, Full of Grace,
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou among Women,
And Blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us Sinners,
Now and at the Hour of our Death,
Amen!”


The above Prayer was learned as a child,
In Catholic Parochial elementary school.
It is known as The Ave Maria, or Hail Mary,
And used to be chanted in series of Ten times each,
While reciting a Basic Credo, known as The Rosary.

During this recitation, a Circle of Rosary Beads was used.
As each Hail Mary was said aloud,
Each individual Bead was held between the fingers.
There were Five Sets of Ten Beads - a Decade -
Each within the Circle, Separated by a Solitary Bead.

Suspended from the Center of the Circle
Was a separate string of Three Beads,
Separated before and after by a Single Bead.
The Beginning, and the End,
Was Exemplified by a Crucifix,
The Body of Christ, the Son,
Hanging on a Cross.

When starting the Rosary,
The Sign of the Cross was made,
First, touching your Forehead,
Saying: “In the Name of The Father,”
Then, touching the Center of your Chest,
Saying: “And of The Son”
Then, touching your Left Shoulder,
Saying: “And of the Holy”
Then, the Right Shoulder,
Saying: “Spirit”
Then clasping Both Hands together,
At the Center of your Body,
Saying: “Amen!”

This Act is a Tribute
To The Blessed Trinity -
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (formerly, Ghost).

Grasping the very First Bead,
The “Apostles Creed” Prayer was said,
Followed by the “Our Father.”
The next Three beads - Hail Mary’s.
The Second Single bead -
“Glory Be to The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost!
As it was in the Beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen.”


Before Starting the recital of each Set of Ten,
The Five Mysteries of the Rosary were Stated,
Depending on the Appropriate Day of the Week.


The Five Joyful Mysteries: -
Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays During Advent Season:

The Annunciation - The Visitation - The Nativity -
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple -
The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

The Five Sorrowful Mysteries: -
Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays During Lenten Season:

The Agony in the Garden - The Scourging at the Pillar -
The Crowning with Thorns - The Carrying of the Cross -
The Crucifixion.

The Five Glorious Mysteries: -
Wednesdays and Sundays (except Christmas and Lent):

The Resurrection - The Ascension -
The Descent of The Holy Spirit -
The Assumption of Mary -
The Coronation of The Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 2002, Pope John Paul II announced Five New Optional Mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries, bringing the total number to Twenty.

The Five Luminous Mysteries: -
Thursdays - Optional Alternative to Joyful:

The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan -
The Wedding Feast at Cana -
Jesus’ Proclamation of The Kingdom of God -
The Transfiguration -
The Institution of the Eucharist.


After the Rosary:

HAIL, HOLY QUEEN,
Mother of Mercy, our Life, our Sweetness and our Hope!
To Thee do we cry, poor Banished Children of Eve;
To Thee do we send up our sighs,
Mourning and weeping in this Valley of Tears.
Turn then, most Gracious Advocate,
Thine eyes of Mercy toward us,
And after this our Exile,
Show unto us the Blessed Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus.
O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary!


V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made Worthy of the Promises of Christ.

**********************

Tile :The Beatles - Let it Be

These lyrics from www.lyrics007.com


When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.


And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

NOTE:
I made the mother Mary LARGER, just for emphasis:

Inspiration - See also: Jim and Mary McCartney.

McCartney said he had the idea of "Let It Be", after a dream he had about his mother during the tense period surrounding the Get Back/Let It Be sessions. McCartney explained that his mother—who died of cancer when McCartney was fourteen—was the inspiration for the "Mother Mary" lyric.[1][2] McCartney later said, "It was great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing 'Let It Be'."[3][4] He also said—in a later interview about the dream—that his mother had told him,
"It will be alright, just let it be."[5]

Note that Paul used a lower case m in both places,
As the Inspiration was about his mother - Not Jesus’s!
But way back in 1970, when I first heard this song,
I did NOT know that!

In closing, let me say this:
For those of you who are, or once were, of the Catholic persuasion,
The above may be just a pleasant walk down Memory Lane.
For others, it may invoke a -
“god, why all that religious CRAP?”

While I personally no longer attend Church, nor Mass,
nor believe in ANY ‘organized religion’ - the old adage:
“The Family that Prays Together, Stays Together”
Still seems to be a once worthy Cause.

Once upon a time, MARY, the Mother of Christ,
And the Wife of Joseph, was held in very high Esteem by
Millions upon Millions of untold Worshippers.
Pictures, Statues, and Medals portrayed her
With her Heel Crushing the head of the Serpent,
The symbol of Satan.

Whenever, and wherever I ever hear the Beautiful
Latin Hymn, or Anthem, The Ave Maria,
It sends chills down my spine.

Guess old Habits die Hard?

“Oh Mary, Conceived without Sin -
Pray for us, Who have Recourse to Thee!”


WEB-Liography:


For those interested in the vast History and Types of Rosaries:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary


LET IT BE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be_(song)#Inspiration




“Pax Domine Sit Semper Vobiscum!”

© - TKH