What joy for us as Bishop Fabre-Jeune blesses our new Rosary Garden
What joy for us as the Bishop of Charleston, Most Reverend Jacques Fabre-Jeune, joined us for the blessing and dedication of the new Rosary Garden located on the lowest tier of of the beautiful Luce Garden which was gifted to the monks by Clare Boothe Luce when she and her husband, Henry, in 1949, gave this property for the foundation of a contemplative monastery. Soon after, a statue of the Blessed Mother was given to the monks by a generous friend here in Charleston. Many who come to the gardens for a respite from the pressures of contemporary life, seeking a place of serenity and peace where the natural beauty reminds each person of the Creator who gives us each life and breath, purpose and meaning. Each person has noticed this representation of Mary, Jesus’ mother, holding him as a little boy – crawling him (?) or bringing him to us that we might receive Jesus’ blessings and teachings(?). And we understand that this statue reminds us that with Mary as Blessed Guerric of Igny tells us, we are meant to bring Jesus into the world. It is a sure reminder that God gives each of us, with Mary, the task of bringing Jesus to everyone we meet.
Cistercian monks pray together seven times a day. At the end of each of these times of prayer we join our voices to sing commending all God’s family to the intercession of Jesus’ mother whom we are told is our mother as well, since we are all Jesus’ sisters and brothers. Cistercians found themselves reflecting on God’s saving work through a lens of Mary’s life. She always lived to fulfill the work of the incarnation. She centered her life on God’s will. As we pray the mysteries of the rosary we reflect on the scripture passages that announce God is at work to save us. We can never forget this truth. And may this garden bring us all to hold this space as a place of grace and remembrance where we can pray individually or together growing to understand how God continues to use Mary for our benefit and spiritual well being.
