Gangway for the Queen!

Today, the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we held a procession on the neighbouring island of Stronsay. The procession went from Our Lady's Chapel, through Whitehall village and down each of the two piers of Stronsay harbour.
The feast of the Queenship this year also marks the 12th anniversary of our taking ownership of Papa Stronsay.

The captions under the photos are the hymn Stabat Mater Speciosa. It is sung to the same melody as the Stabat Mater Dolorosa.

Beginning in the Chapel, Marilyn Friel crowns our statue of Our Lady of Fatima with a crown of flowers.

Stabat Mater speciosa
iuxta faenum gaudiosa,
dum iacebat parvulus.

By, the crib wherein reposing,
with His eyes in slumber closing,
lay serene her Infant-boy.

Cuius animam gaudentem
laetabundam et ferventem
pertransivit iubilus.

Stood the beauteous Mother feeling
bliss that could not bear concealing,
so her face o'erflowed with joy.

Br. Magdala Maria, F.SS.R. and Br. Nicodemus Mary, F.SS.R. bear Our Lady through the village.

O quam laeta et beata
fuit illa immaculata,
mater Unigeniti!

Oh, the rapture naught could smother
of that most Immaculate Mother
of the sole-begotten One;

Quae gaudebat et ridebat,
exultabat, cum videbat
nati partum inclyti.

When with laughing heart exulting,
she beheld her hopes resulting
In the great birth of her Son.

Praying the rosary.

Quisquam est, qui non gauderet,
Christi matrem si videret
in tanto solatio?

Who would not with gratulation
see the happy consolation
of Christ's Mother undefiled?

Quis non posset collaetari,
Christi Matrem contemplari
ludentem cum Filio?

Who would not be glad surveying
Christ's dear Mother bending, praying,
playing with her heavenly Child?

Pro peccatis suae gentis
Christum vidit cum iumentis
et algori subditum.

For a sinful world's salvation,
Christ her Son's humiliation
She beheld and brooded o'er;

Vidit suum dulcem Natum
vagientem, adoratum,
vili deversorio.

Saw Him weak, a child, a stranger,
yet before Him in the manger
kings lie prostrate and adore.

Nato, Christo in praesepe
caeli cives canunt laete
cum immenso gaudio.

O'er that lowly manger winging,
joyful hosts from heaven were singing
canticles of holy praise;

Stabat, senex cum puella
non cum verbo nec loquela
stupescentes cordibus.

While the old man and the maiden,
speaking naught, with hearts o'erladen,
pondered on God's wondrous ways.

Eia, Mater, fons amoris
me sentire vim ardoris
fac, ut tecum sentiam.

Fount of love, forever flowing,
with a burning ardor glowing,
make me, Mother, feel like thee;

Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
in amatum Christum Deum
ut sibi complaceam.

Let my heart, with graces gifted
all on fire, to Christ be lifted,
and by Him accepted be.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,
prone introducas plagas
cordi fixas valide.

Holy Mother, deign to bless me,
with His sacred Wounds impress me,
let them in my heart abide;

Tui Nati caelo lapsi,
iam dignati faeno nasci,
poenas mecum divide.

Since He came, thy Son, the Holy,
to a birth-place, ah, so lowly,
all His pains with me divide.

Fac me vere congaudere,
Iesulino cohaerere,
donec ego vixero.

Make me with true joy delighted,
to Child-Jesus be united
while my days of life endure;
In me sistat ardor tui,
puerino fac me frui
dum sum in exilio.

While an exile here sojourning,
make my heart like thine be burning
with a love divine and pure.

Papa Stronsay is seen across the water.
Spotless Maid and sinless Woman,
make us feel a fire in common,
make my heart's long longing sure.

Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara,
fac me parvum rapere.

Virgin of all virgins highest,
prayer to thee thou ne'er denyest,
let me bear thy sweet Child too.

The Orkney flag flies on the monastery boat Charnetski.

Fac, ut pulchrum infantem portem,
qui nascendo vicit mortem,
volens vitam tradere.

Let me bear Him in my bosom,
Lord of life, and never lose Him,
since His birth doth death subdue.

Returning to the chapel.

Fac me tecum satiari,
Nato me inebriari,
stantem in tripudio.

Let me show forth how immense is
the effect on all my senses
of an union so divine.

Hail Holy Queen! Our Lady's crown and rosary were carried before her on a red cushion.

All who in the crib revere Him,
like the shepherds watching near Him,
will attend Him through the night,

Inflammatus et accensus,
obstupescit omnis sensus
tali me commercio.

By thy powerful prayers protected,
grant, O Queen, that His elected
may behold heaven's moving light.


Fac, me Nato custodiri,
verbo Dei praemuniri
conservari gratia.

Make me by His birth be guarded,
by God's holy word be warded,
by His grace till all is done;

Quando corpus morietur,
fac, ut animae donetur
tui nati gloria. Amen.

When my body lies obstructed,
make my soul to be conducted,
to the vision of thy Son. Amen.

The Collect from today's Mass:
Concede nobis, quaesumus, Domine: ut, qui solemnitatem beatae Maria; Virginis Reginae nostrae celebramus; ejus muniti praesidio, pacem in present et gloriam in futuro consequi mereamur.

Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, to those who are celebrating this solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary our Queen: that safe in her protection we may deserve to enjoy present peace and future glory.

O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May!
O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May!

O Mary, Rendering unto Thee our homage and fielty, as our Lady and Queen,
we beg of Thee the grace of perseverance untill the end. Amen