In Splendour Arrayed

A few shots of the progress thus far on the grotto for Our Lady at St Edward’s House; a practical and devotional way to spend some spare time in this Marian month of May, and to make use of the natural resource of the abundance of rocks and stones. The structure needs to be built up at the back and sides, a statue has been sourced, and after some proper landscaping and planting of roses (for the entrance arch) and Marian flowers (for the rockery), we will have a decent enough grotto in this relatively quiet and secluded part of the garden. 

​In splendour arrayed,
In vesture of gold,
The Mother of God
In glory behold!
O Daughter of David,
Thou dwellest on high,
Excelling in brightness
The hosts of the sky.
 
O Maiden thou art,
A Mother renowned;
A Mother who yet
As Virgin art crowned;
The Lord of the Angels,
God high and supreme,
Took flesh of thy substance,
The world to redeem.

All kindreds and tongues
Thine Offspring adore,
Creation must bow
His footstool before;
At thy gentle pleadings
May he from his height
Disperse all our shadows
And fill us with light.
 
The Father we praise,
Who chose for his Son
A Mother all-pure,
Th’ Immaculate one.
All praise to her Offspring
Who saveth our race:
Like praise to the Spirit
Who filled her with grace.

The Walsingham Pilgrim Manual