Vicar's View

Mary, the Blessed Virgin – An Example for Us All 

On 15th August the Church celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. While Christians have different traditions of honouring Mary, Anglicans give thanks for her unique place in God's plan of salvation and see in her a wonderful example of faithful discipleship. 

When the angel Gabriel announced that she would bear God's Son, Mary responded with remarkable trust: "Let it be with me according to your word." She could not have known everything that lay ahead, yet she accepted God's call with courage and humility. Her example reminds us that faith is often about trusting God, even when the future is uncertain. 

Mary accompanied Jesus throughout his earthly life. She rejoiced at his birth, nurtured him as he grew, witnessed his ministry, and remained faithfully at the foot of the cross. In her deepest sorrow, she did not abandon hope. After the resurrection, she was with the disciples as they waited in prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 



Mary's song of praise, the Magnificat, continues to inspire Christians today. It proclaims God's concern for the humble, the hungry, and the forgotten, reminding us that his kingdom turns the values of the world upside down. Her words challenge us to live lives of justice, mercy and compassion. 

For Anglicans, Mary is not worshipped but honoured as the first and faithful disciple. She always points beyond herself to Jesus, saying through her life what she once said at Cana: "Do whatever he tells you." In following her example of trust, prayer and obedience, we are encouraged to deepen our own relationship with Christ and to respond generously to God's call in our daily lives. 

Mary is our patron saint in Luddenden - the church’s full name is The Parish Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin. We will be celebrating this at our Patronal Festival on 16th August. On that day we have Festal Eucharist at 10am and Festal Evensong at 4pm - both lead by Canon Philip Gray. Evensong will be sung by a group of very talented singers - ‘Caldereliensis’. 



After this service there will be cheese and wine in church and live music by Adelaide in the churchyard. Everyone is welcome to either/ both services and to the cheese and wine and live music in the churchyard 

Christine Akroyd