A Scriptural Litany and Rosary for Our Lady Seat of Wisdom

What follows is a kind of Scriptural Rosary that draws on Wisdom texts from the Old Testament. There, wisdom is often personified as “Lady Wisdom.” While some have thought to attribute these verses to the Holy Spirit there are difficulties in that approach. The Holy Spirit is not a lady or a creature. He is the uncreated Third Person of the Holy Trinity. While in essence God is neither Male nor Female, Jesus consistently refers to the Holy Spirit as “He” and “Him.” Secondly, since some of the texts below speak of Wisdom as being created by God, this cannot be said of the Holy Spirit, who is God, not a creature. Similar problems emerge when one tries to apply these verses to Jesus.

Hence, an alternative seems opportune in attributing these verses and the image to our Blessed Mother who is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit and the Seat of Wisdom. Our Blessed Mother is the personification and exemplification of Lady Wisdom in the Old Testament. She is the seat of Wisdom in two ways. First, upon her lap sat He who is God’s Wisdom. Secondly, as Mary formed and brought forth He who is Wisdom itself (I speak of Jesus’ human origins) so too does she form Christ in us, by God’s grace. Allow then these verses that speak of God’s Wisdom speak also of Mary who is “Seat of Wisdom” and, by God’s grace, a source of Wisdom for us who are all called to be formed into Christ.

These verses can be used in conjunction with any of the current Mysteries of the Rosary. Hence, I leave the mysteries untitled below. These verses can also serve as the basis of a mediation apart from the rosary. But pray them meditatively and rejoice in the great gift Jesus gave us of his most holy, most pure, most Blessed and glorious Lady, Theotokos and ever Virgin Mary.

Mary, Seat of Wisdom and Spouse of the Holy Spirit: pray for us!

Mystery 1:

1. Therefore, I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. (Wisdom 7:7)
2. I preferred her to scepter and throne and deemed riches nothing in comparison with her. (Wis 7:8)
3. I loved her, And I chose to have her rather than earthly light, because her radiance never ceases. (Wis 7:10)
4. All good things together came to me with her, and countless riches at her hands…though I had not known that she is their mother. (Wis 7:11-12)
5. For she is an unfailing treasure; those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God, being commended by the gifts that come from her discipline. (Wis 7:14)
6. For in her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, [yet] manifold. (Wis 7:22)
7. Subtle, agile, clear, unstained, and certain, (Wis 7:22)
8. Never harmful, loving the good, (Wis 7:22)
9. Keen and unhampered, beneficent, kindly and powerful, (Wis 7:23)
10. Firm and secure, [yet] tranquil, all-seeing, and pervading all spirits. (Wis 7:23)

Mystery 2:

1. For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity. (Wis 7:24)
2. For she is a breath of the might of God and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty. (Wis 7:25)
3. Therefore, nothing defiled can enter into her. (Wis 7:25)
4. For she is the reflection of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness. (Wis 7:26)
5. Although she is one, she can do all things, and she renews everything while herself perduring. (Wis 7:27)
6. Passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets. (Wis 7:27)
7. For God loves nothing so much as the one who dwells with Wisdom. (Wis 7:28)
8. For she is fairer than the sun and surpasses every constellation of the stars. (Wis 7:29)
9. Compared to light, she is found more radiant. (Wis 7:29)
10. For, though night supplants light, wickedness does not prevail over Wisdom. (Wis 7:30)

Mystery 3:

1. The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed? Her subtleties—who knows them? There is but one, wise and truly awesome, seated upon his throne—the Lord. (Sir 1:7-8)
2. It is he who created her, saw her and measured her, poured her forth upon all his works, upon every living thing according to his bounty, lavished her upon those who love him. (Sir 1:8-10a)
3. With the godly she was created from of old, and with their descendants she will keep faith. (Sir 1:10b)
4. She inebriates them with her fruits. Knowledge and full understanding she rains down; (Sir 1:16, 19)
5. Wisdom teaches her children and admonishes all who can understand her. (Sir 4:11)
6. Those who love her love life; those who seek her out win the LORD’s favor. (Sir 4:12)
7. Those who hold her fast will attain glory, and they shall abide in the blessing of the LORD. (Sir 4:13)
8. Those who serve her serve the Holy One; those who love her the Lord loves. (Sir 4:14)
9. With all your soul draw close to her; and with all your strength keep her ways. (Sir 4:26)
10. Inquire and search, seek and find; when you get hold of her, do not let her go. (Sir 4:27)

Mystery 4:

1. Thus, at last you will find rest in her, and she will become your joy. (Sirach 4:28)
2. Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame, and those who serve me will never go astray. (Sir 24:24)
3. Her fetters will be a place of strength, her snare, a robe of spun gold. (Sir 4:29)
4. Take her yoke upon your neck; that your mind may receive her teaching. (Sir 51:26)
5. She will meet him like a mother; …She will feed him with the bread of learning and give him the water of understanding to drink. (Sirach 15:2-3)
6. He will lean upon her and not fall; he will trust in her and not be put to shame. (Sir 15:4)
7. She will exalt him above his neighbors, and in the assembly, she will make him eloquent. (Sir 15:5)
8. She says, “I will water my plants, I will drench my flower beds.” (Sir 24:31)
9. When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom. She came to me in her beauty, and until the end I will grow with her. (Sir 51:13-14)
10. From my earliest youth I was familiar with her. In the short time I paid heed, I met with great instruction. (Sir 51:15-16)

Mystery 5:

1. I resolved to tread her paths; I have been jealous for the good and will not turn back. (Sir 51:18)
2. I burned with desire for her, never relenting. I became preoccupied with her, never weary of extolling her. (Sir 51:19)
3. I spread out my hands to the heavens and I came to know her secrets. (Sir 51:19)
4. For her I purified my hands; in cleanness I attained to her. At first acquaintance with her, I gained understanding such that I will never forsake her. (Sir 51:20)
5. My whole being was stirred to seek her; therefore, I have made her my prize possession. (Sir 51:21)
6. Come aside to me, you untutored, and take up lodging in the house of instruction. (Sri 51:23)
7. How long will you deprive yourself of wisdom’s food, how long endure such bitter thirst? (Sir 51:24)
8. For she is close to those who seek her, and the one who is in earnest finds her. (Sir 51:26)
9. Acquire but a little instruction, and you will win silver and gold through her. (Sir 51:28)
10. Since in this way I have profited, I will give my teacher grateful praise. (Sir 51:17)

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Image courtesy Depositphotos.

This post was originally published on Community in Mission and is reprinted here with permission.