Further Prayers written for Morning Prayer on Wednesday 8 September

Chris Offili - The Holy Virgin Mary, 1996

Today we remember the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Images of Mary - A Lecture by The Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John

Europa Prima Pars Terrae informa Virginis' by Heinrich Bunting

While in Prague in August we visited the beautiful Strahov Monastery and its extensive library. One of the exhibits on display was a print of 'Europa Prima Pars Terrae informa Virginis' by Heinrich Bunting - a map of Europe in the form of a Virgin (Mary) showing Bohemia at its heart and Spain (home to the Hapsburg Dynasty who were, at the time the map was created, Holy Roman Emperors of Europe) as the head. It looks as though Britain and Ireland are floating off behind the head of the Virgin, but in most versions they are shown as a flag or banner, which she is waving.