In his encyclical on philosophy (which is the “love of wisdom”), Pope Saint John Paul II invokes Mary as “Seat of Wisdom... whose life itself is a true parable illuminating the reflection contained in these pages. ...just as in giving her assent to Gabriel's word, Mary lost nothing of her true humanity and freedom, so too when philosophy heeds the summons of the Gospel's truth its autonomy is in no way impaired. Indeed, it is then that philosophy sees all its enquiries rise to their highest expression. This was a truth which the holy monks of Christian antiquity understood well when they called Mary ‘the table at which faith sits in thought’(Pseudo-Epiphanius). In her they saw a lucid image of true philosophy and they were convinced of the need to philosophari in Maria" (Fides et Ratio 108). In faith, then, philo-sophia as the love of wisdom encounters Mary, the seat of wisdom. 

One of the earliest applications of the title “Seat of Wisdom” to Mary was made by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in the 12^th century. It was later incorporated into the “Litany of Loreto” offered to Mary, approved in the 16^th century by Pope Sixtus V. Mary as “Seat” carries a two-fold implication: the seat of authority conveying the power of her wisdom, and the seat of maternity by which she is the Mother of the God who is Wisdom. In both senses, this “Seat” can be seen in association with Mary’s ancient designation as “Theotokos,” God-bearer. But the nature of the Wisdom which Mary manifests or bears from this “seat” is one our theology struggles to express. This is rooted in the difficulty reason has in grasping the incarnational reality of Christ, “fully human, fully divine,” which leads us to speak of “mystery.” But Mary takes these seeming opposites of humanity and divinity up within her very person. This brings her directly and profoundly into contact with this Truth. While we may ponder theologically in our minds, she not only “ponders all these things in her heart,” she lives them even in the intimacy of her own body. In this sense, her “fiat” opens to her Divine Wisdom itself. One ancient title of from the Eastern church calls her “Container of the Uncontainable.” Mary carries this paradox within her very person; takes on its divergency within her being, as the mystery that is wisdom “overshadows” her.  

Our Lady of Humility. Our Lady, kneeling, (humbly) worships the child, portrayed as a naked baby (humbly) resting on the ground, a common theme beginning in the late Middle ages. Glazed terra-cotta by the Italian Luca della Robbia (about 1450), now in the Abbey’s guest dining room.

Cardinal John Henry Newman writes in The Mystical Rose: “Sedes Sapientiae” - “Mary has this title in her Litany, because the Son of God, who is also called in Scripture the Word and Wisdom of God, once dwelt in her, and then, after His birth of her, was carried in her arms and seated in her lap in His first years. Thus, being as it were, the human throne of Him who reigns in heaven, she is called the ‘Seat of Wisdom.’ In the poet's words (quoting John Keble’s “The Purification”):   

“His throne, thy bosom blest, 

O Mother undefiled. 

That Throne, if aught beneath the skies, 

Beseems the sinless Child.” 

The great Marian saint, Louis de Montfort, also firmly links Mary to divine wisdom: “There is no place in heaven or on earth where Eternal Wisdom shows so much magnificence or finds more delight than in the incomparable Virgin Mary. That is why the Fathers of the Church call her the tabernacle of the divinity, the place of rest and contentment of the Blessed Trinity, the throne of God, the city of God, the altar of God, the temple of God, the world of God and the paradise of God. Only through Mary, then can we possess divine Wisdom” Love of Eternal Wisdom (208-209); St. Louis de Montfort 

While we do not encounter Mary directly in the Rule of Saint Benedict, we find a rich history of reflection on her in the tradition that bears his name. We provide here reflections from several of its representatives on Mary and the meaning of the wisdom she embodies. We hope these attempts to express this verbally will be effectively supplemented by our monastery’s artworks that attempt to capture her sanctity visually.

The Immaculate Conception. Hand carved in Italy of pure white Carrara marble in 2012 by sculptor Walter S. Arnold of Chicago, Illinois, now can be seen in the Abbey’s Lourdes Grotto on the grounds.

“In the divine plan, Mary is inseparable from Jesus, and our holiness consists in entering as far as we can into the divine economy. In God's eternal thoughts, Mary belongs indeed to the very essence of the mystery of Christ; Mother of Jesus, she is the Mother of Him in Whom we find everything. According to the divine plan, life is only given to mankind through Christ the Man-God: Nemo venit ad Patrem nisi per me, (no one comes to the Father but through me), but Christ is only given to the world through Mary: Propter nos homines et propter nostram salu tem, descendit de caelis et incarnatus est ... ex Maria Virgine (“for us men and for our salvation, he descended from heaven and was incarnate... of the Virgin Mary”). This is the divine order and it is unchanging. For, notice that this order was not meant only for the day when the Incarnation took place; it still continues as regards the application of the fruits of the Incarnation to souls. Why is this? Because the source of grace is Christ, the Incarnate Word; but as Christ, as Mediator, He remains inseparable from the human nature which He took from the Virgin” (Columba Marmion, Christ, the Life of the Soul, Part II, chapter 12, section 4). 

Flight into Egypt. By the 19th-century French artist Jean-Leon Gerome, shows us Mary and the Infant riding a donkey in flight to Egypt. This masterpiece in bronze expresses the weary trials of a young, homeless, refugee mother with great sensitivity.

“...Oh, whosoever thou art that perceiveth thyself during this mortal existence to be rather drifting in treacherous waters, at the mercy of the winds and the waves, than walking on firm ground, turn not away thine eyes from the splendor of this guiding star, unless thou wish to be submerged by the storm! When the storms to temptation burst upon thee, when thou seest thyself driven upon the rocks of tribulation, look at the star, call upon Mary. When buffeted by the billows of pride, or ambition, or hatred, or jealousy, look at the star, call upon Mary. Should anger, or avarice, or fleshly desire violently assail the frail vessel of thy soul, look at the star, call upon Mary. ...In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name leave thy lips, never suffer it to leave thy heart. ...under her protection, thou hast nothing to fear; if she walks before thee, thou shalt not grow weary; if she shows thee favor, thou shalt reach the goal.”  (As quoted in Pius XII, Doctor Mellifluous, paragraph 31) 

“...through your blessing all creation is blessed...” (from Saint Anselm) 

Mary, I beg you, by that grace through which the Lord is with you and you willed to be with him, let your mercy be with me. Let love for you always be with me, and the care of me be always with you. Let the cry of my need, as long as it persists, be with you, and the care of your goodness, as long as I need it, be with me. Let joy in your blessedness be always with me, and compassion for my wretchedness, where I need it, be with you. (from the “Great” Marian prayer of Saint Anselm) 

“Blessed Lady, sky and stars, earth and rivers, day and night—everything that is subject to the power or use of man—rejoice that through you they are in some sense restored to their lost beauty and are endowed with inexpressible new grace. All creatures were dead, as it were, useless for men or for the praise of God, who made them. The world, contrary to its true destiny, was corrupted and tainted by the acts of men who served idols. Now all creation has been restored to life and rejoices that it is controlled and given splendor by men who believe in God. The universe rejoices with new and indefinable loveliness. Not only does it feel the unseen presence of God himself, its Creator, it sees him openly, working and making it holy. These great blessings spring from the blessed fruit of Mary's womb... Lady, full and overflowing with grace, all creation receives new life from your abundance. Virgin, blessed above all creatures, through your blessing all creation is blessed, not only creation from its Creator, but the Creator himself has been blessed by creation.” (Saint Anselm, Oratio 52: PL 158, 955-956) 

Maria Orans with Christ Child. In 1980, Adelaide de Bethune portrayed Our Lady praying on this very large fabric banner, which hangs in the Abbey church each year during the Advent and Christmas seasons.

“...I want you, on your part, to pray three Hail Mary’s to me each day. With the first, you will ask that, just as God the Father raised me up to a throne of glory without equal, making me the most powerful creature in heaven and on earth, so too I may assist you on earth to strengthen you and drive away from you every power of the enemy. With the second Hail Mary, you will ask that, just as the Son of God filled me with wisdom to such an extent that I have more knowledge of the Holy Trinity than all the Saints, so too may I help you during the last moments of your life, filling your soul with the light of faith and of true wisdom, so that the shadows of error and ignorance may not darken it. With the third, you will ask that, just as the Holy Spirit filled me with the sweetness of His love, and has made me so loving that, after God, I am the sweetest and most merciful, so also may I help you at the hour of your death, filling your soul with such gentleness of divine love that all the sorrow and bitterness of your death may be changed for you into delight.” (Revelation to Mechthilde of Magdeburg) 

In a vision, St. Gertrude saw the appearance of three springs of water, flowing from the Hearts of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. These then penetrated into the Heart of Mary. Gertrude then heard a voice that said, “After the Power of the Father, the Wisdom of the Son, and the Tender Mercy of the Holy Spirit, nothing compares to the Power, Wisdom, and Tender Mercy of Mary.” (Revelation to Saint Gertrude the Great) 

Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados (Our Lady of the Forsaken). Commonly portrayed on glazed tiles like these, she is the patroness of Valencia, Spain. Two of the innocent ones sacrificed for Herod can be seen concealed within the folds of her tunic. (Located in the monastery)

“Here are the thoughts from Doctors of the church about Our Lady. The first is from Saint Anselm, who was a Benedictine: ‘Mary was raised to the dignity of the Mother of God rather for sinners than for the just, since Jesus Christ declares that He came to call not the just, but sinners.’ The second comes from Saint Bernard: ‘Let us then cast ourselves at the feet of this good Mother, and embracing them let us not depart until she blesses us, and accepts us for her children.’ And the third is from Saint Bonaventure: ‘She seeks for those who approach her devoutly and with reverence, for such she loves, nourishes, and adopts as her children.’ Holy Mary pray for us, and keep us in your care” (Homilette of Abbot Matthew Stark, November 7, 2020). 

Sedes Sapientiae (Seat of Wisdom). Mary portrayed crowned and sitting on a throne with the Christ Child – Wisdom itself - on her lap, acting as his throne. This 14th-century sculpture was carved in French limestone and can be seen in our church.

“In 2013 the Abbot asked me to accompany a group of our students on the annual trip to Lourdes. This kind of thing doesn’t appeal to me very much.  So I said I didn’t really care to. He continued: “But will you?” I answered: “Sure.” On the evening of our last day at Lourdes I went to the Grotto to pray. Out of the blue an urgent impression came upon me: “Why aren’t you a priest?” I had the clear impression it came from Our Lady. I’d been perfectly content to be a simple monk. Until that moment I had not given ordination a thought. Almost immediately it happened again. Then it came a third time. I became a little distraught. I only calmed down when I promised Our Lady to ask the Abbot as soon as I returned. I did as I promised. The Abbot replied in vintage Benedictine style. He told me to go back the following year to see if she’d ask again. I did, and she did. I promised again to ask the Abbot. But thought to myself: “What if the Abbot turns me down?” If he did, I’d sure stay clear Lourdes; that’s for sure. I was ordained in 2015. So, I can return to Lourdes peacefully someday” (Autobiographical statement, Father Gregory Havill) 

Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom and Queen of Peace, pray for us.