140 A New Year under the protection of the Mother of God

The Christmas season is in full swing, and the New Year is here! As we begin 2024, on January 1st, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God. She is our protection and our strength as we begin anew. The Christian Tradition teaches us a beautiful Marian Antiphon, very proper to this time of the year, called the Sub Tuum Praesidium, in English, “We fly to your protection”. Today I reflect about the historical, theological, and spiritual value of this prayer, which is the most ancient Marian prayer of which we have an original written record. Listen as the Miles Christi seminarians sing this beautiful Gregorian Chant piece!

- You can find more about this prayer and the “Egyptian Papyrus” from the John Rylands library in England, in this article: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2011/02/sub-tuum-praesidium.html .

- You can download the “Sub Tuum Praesidium” Gregorian chant piece recorded by the Miles Christi seminarians (and other songs as well!) here: https://www.mileschristi.org/schola-cantorum/

- Fr. Patrick Wainwright is a priest of Miles Christi, a Catholic Religious Order.

- Visit the Miles Christi Religious Order website: https://www.mileschristi.org

- This Podcast’s Website: https://www.forcollegecatholics.org

- To learn about the Spiritual Exercises (silent weekend retreat) preached by the Priests of Miles Christi, visit: https://www.mileschristi.org/spiritual-exercises/

- Recorded at our Family Center in South Lyon, Michigan.

- Planning, recording, editing, and publishing by Fr. Patrick Wainwright, MC.

- Gear: Shure MV7 USB dynamic microphone.

- Intro music from pond5.com