Our Lady, St Marie

“Daughter of the Father, Mother of the Son, and Spouse of the Holy Spirit”

St Marie’s Cathedral is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, otherwise known as St Marie. (The name ‘St. Marie’ is simply a French version of ‘St. Mary’).

Our Lady in the central panel of the East Window of the Cathedral Church of St Marie – shown as described in the Book of Revelation, clothed in the Sun, standing on the crescent Moon and crowned, with a halo of 12 stars

Mary is not worshipped like God is, but she is greatly honoured and celebrated within the Catholic Church. In Catholic understanding, Mary – being “full of grace” (Luke 1:28) and “blessed” (Luke 1:42) – are understood to mean that she was born without Original Sin. As such, she is called The Immaculate Conception.

Mary does the will of God – perfectly. Among all creatures, only Mary does the will of God perfectly.  And that is what makes her the greatest saint there ever was – and will be.

Mary was always “pondering in her heart” the “good things” that God was doing in her life (see Luke 2:19,51).  She praised and thanked God in all things, because she found God in all things. She pondered deeply in her heart His many signs of love.

Of course, Mary was specifically chosen by God, our Heavenly Father, to be the Mother of His beloved Son, Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  She gave birth to Jesus, nurtured and cared for him, and then became his disciple.  At the Wedding Feast in Cana, Mary initiated Jesus’ first miracle through her motherly attentiveness to human need.

Mary is still bringing people’s needs to Jesus’ attention today. Mary is truly our spiritual mother whose God-given task is also to nurture us with tender care.  In response to prayers to our Blessed Mother, Mary leads us to her son, Jesus. She accompanies us on that journey and offers us protection along the way. United with the Holy Spirit, she also provides us with gifts and graces through her loving prayers.

Doing God’s will is never easy, and that is why we ask for Mary’s help.

Here are some useful prayers:

The Hail Mary:

Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst 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.

Hail, Holy Queen:

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail 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 vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards 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.

The Angelus:

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

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.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary…

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary…


Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.Amen.