The Pope established that festival, since in the 20th century the Catholic
Church had lost influence and he wanted to reconnect with old traditions.
But for many other dominations this step was a disappointment, because it
emphasised sectarian distance. Yet that Mary by her assumption should be
seen as the ‘First Redeemed’ of men, means that the promise if redemption,
to make us whole again, was given to all.
Mary has at all times been associated with fine smells, for that reason in
many continental churches a ‘blessing of herbs’ is being practised, herbs
which are healing remedies of nature. Like so many folk customs, this was
probably a kind of Christianisation of a pagan ritual. Celts and Germanic
tribes practised magic with herbs, whereby special herbs were used for
protection against lightning strike or deceases of the cattle, for a good
harvest, marital bliss and children. Even in Christian times such customs
were preserved. Bundles of herbs which were blessed on the Festival of the
Assumption were pinned up in stables for the protection of home and cattle,
during thunderstorms such bundles of herbs were thrown on to the fire in the
hearth, but it isn’t clear if they helped against lightning. Yet there are
certainly healing qualities in many herbs, which are ripe for harvesting at the
time of the festival. In the Middle Ages these often were the only known
remedy against deceases, and by practicing the custom of blessing of the
herbs, we can be reminded how important the herbs are for medicine. For
instance, many herbs can help for minor injuries, for digestion or problems
with the bladder. While some of them are protected species now, others can
be found by the way side. When I was at school, we were sometimes taken
on nature walks and asked to collect such herbs which were then delivered
to some public collection place for turning them into herbal teas. One doesn’t
have to mutter some magic formula when picking them, yet at the church
ritual of blessing there is traditionally a specific number of herbs put together
in the bundle. There is for instance the number 3 (for Trinity), 9 (three times
three), 12 (for apostles), 14 (helpers in need) up to 72 (meant to be disciples
of Jesus, or even 99.
At this festival, the blessing of herbs signifies a thanksgiving for the healing
properties of nature, together with the belief in God’s spiritual healing and-
for Catholics- a belief in the intercession by Mary. It is a Festival of joy in the
summertime, in beauty and in the Mother of Christ.
Remember! Remember!
The magazine can only be informative and interesting if everyone makes a
contribution. So please feel free to contribute your thoughts, memories of St
Oswald’s, of the area – of life! (Deadline for September issue is Sunday
20 August 2017).
Thanks
Morag: Editor
StOM Page 6