Queen of the Snow

Having a proper snow day in Washington is a rare, and joyous occasion. I experienced my first snow day at the seminary earlier this semester. It was an extraordinarily peaceful day. And even weeks after the day, the Lord has invited me to enter back into that place of rest which I found on that holiday. A snow day really is a beautiful thing. It is a day of rest freely given to us by the Lord, which we have literally no control over. As all our obligations disappear in a blanket of white powder, we can only stand in awe of what the Lord has given us and receive the gift with joy. In this awe, we find the freedom to truly rest, for there is nothing else we can do. Just an aside, this is why I am adamantly against Zoom classes on snow days. Can’t we just receive what the Lord has given us and take a break! Anyway, during the day I couldn’t help but think about our blessed Mother as I admired the snow-covered hills of DC.

In popular Christian art, Mary is often depicted with the moon under her feet, or with a crown upon her head. This is because Mary’s glory comes completely from her Son. She is but a reflection of the glory of God, just as the brightness of the moon is a reflection of the rays of the sun. This image came to mind as my eyes were struck by the brightness of the snow. Even though it was a cloudy day, the reflection of the sun's rays off the snow was enough to make one squint. Another sign which seemed to confirm Mary’s presence in the snow was the crown on the Mary statue in the courtyard. Atop of her stone crown, was another crown, one of snow. I couldn’t help but think that the Lord had taken this day to commemorate His mother. 

The image prompted me to write a poem. The poem illustrates Mary not as the Star of the Sea, but as the Star of the Earth, with the rays of God’s beauty reflecting perfectly off her snowy white complexion.

The Star of The Earth

by James Bolin

We commemorate this day, not for any worth which the saints have brought for us.

But because it was a free gift from you, given with true trust.

You crown the world with white, purer than gold, and say that it is good.

And in this you commemorate your mother Lord, as you rightly should.

The Star of the Sea, the moon of the sky, reflects your rays so brightly.

And on this sightly day, only cause you wish it may, 

you cover the world with a reflection of your nature.

This nature reflected profoundest in only one creature.

The Star of the Sea becomes star of the earth, enrobed in whitened glory.

To crown this day, you crown our mother, with flakes of your reflection.

And you tell the whole world to stop and rest, under her protection.

James Bolin is a College II Seminarian for the Archdiocese of Washington

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