“She’s so beautiful,” my friend said, pointing to Mary atop the golden dome, “but I wonder if she would be happier if we melted her down and gave to the poor.” I told my friend to consider all the money we spend on other things; there is too much money coming in and out of this University to not give the Blessed Mother the golden fame she deserves.
One night last week, as I was walking back to Keenan, I paused to sit in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue and gaze up at Mary. Whenever I walk between Jesus’ outstretched arms and Our Mother’s guiding glow, I feel hugged by the love of the Holy Family. That night I wanted to stay in the hug a little longer. One thing I love about the statue of Mary on the dome is her arms. Her right arm reaches out to me — she is tender; her left arm keeps me there — she is strong and true. Her subtle gestures are a nice complement to Jesus’ grand embrace, his loud invitation, “Come to me all!”
When I look at the golden dome, I do not see pride or wealth or the glitzy glamor of human endeavor. I see the opposite. I see the purity of humility and obedience. I think of the line in the Magnificat (the song that Mary sang after meeting Elizabeth). “He has looked with favor on his lowly servant” (Luke 1:48). Our Lady inspires me to be as humble as she was, to become God’s lowly servant, so that I too can say, “The Almighty has done great things for me” (Luke 1:49), so that I too can be cloaked with glory’s mantle and be pure as gold.
Though I usually cannot see it, I know that, at the bottom of the statue, Mary is crushing the serpent. In the same way, I know that Mary protects me from the snares of the devil, usually without me noticing. The Queen of Heaven not only subjects the demons but also reigns over the angels. I think of this when she shines on a clear South Bend night with her head among the stars, and I ask that she send her angels to help me.
The golden dome is especially inspiring to me as a student. There rests the Seat of Wisdom herself. In many depictions of the Annunciation, Mary looks up from a book toward the angel Gabriel. First, she studied and pondered the Word, then she said yes to the Word, then she carried the Word within her, then she gave birth to the Word, then she walked with the Word no matter how much it pierced her heart. O Notre Dame, may we study the truth like you, submit to the truth like you, carry the truth with us like you, give birth to the truth like you, stand firm in the truth like you and bear the wounds which the truth brings like you!
Richard Taylor is a junior from St. Louis living in Keenan Hall. He studies physics and also has an interest in theology. He encourages all readers to send reactions, reflections or refutations to rtaylo23@nd.edu.
