Many now consider themselves Christians, but do not know even the most elementary prayers that children used to know by heart. Not everyone even understands why to know them by heart, because you can always pray in your own words. This, of course, is correct, prayer is not some kind of magic formula. It is not so important with what words a person addresses God, it matters with what attitude. So why then memorize prayers by heart or read them from a prayer book?
All modern prayers are composed not just by people, but by saints, ascetics of piety. They were people with great spiritual experience, talented writers, who in a few words were able to express the most important thing briefly, but succinctly. For example, the prayers that are supposed to be read before communion are filled with repentance, awareness of one's unworthiness and the greatness of God.
Prayers of the Mother of God usually have a slightly different color. They are like a child addressing his mother. The text of the prayer "Virgin Mother of God, rejoice" is composed of several passages.
Explanations on the text
Appeal beginsfrom the words of greeting with which the Angel addressed the Virgin. At this moment, she performed reading and prayer. "Rejoice, Virgo, rejoice!" - this is how the archangel greeted the young girl Mary.
She was, of course, embarrassed. And she asked why such a strange treatment? To this, the Archangel announced the amazing news that the universal prayer had finally been heard. "Rejoice, Virgin, rejoice, you will give birth to a Son who will be the Savior of the whole world." Mary began to find out how this could happen if She "does not know her husband." But the Archangel explained that he would be conceived from the Holy Spirit. During prayer, we constantly mention parts of that Archangel's speech: "Blessed are You among women," "Blessed is the Fruit of Your womb." The fruit of the womb is, of course, Christ. This praise of the Mother of God, of course, became the most precious memory of the Mother of God for Her earthly life, and the moment that turned the whole history of the Earth.
How to pray
Most often, prayer for a modern person is a petition, and if there are no requests, then it seems to be no longer a prayer. “Rejoice, Virgin, rejoice, Blessed One, God is with You” - all this is praise, not requests, and this is beautiful. Some people perceive God as a kind of supreme welfare, not relationships arise, but endless deals and complaints. This is not what Christ wanted when He came to Earth. He did not promise a simple life, He did not promise prosperity. On the contrary, He spoke of the hardships that would persecute Christians.
But the Lord is always ready to help, you just have to ask. The main goal of a Christian isto save his soul, he must constantly improve himself, draw nearer to God. And the main tool with which to act is prayer. "Rejoice, Virgin, rejoice" - in this sense, a completely unique doxology. This is a reminder of the moment when one girl became as close to God as no person before or after Her.
Of course, the Mother of God was a special child from birth, but in a sense, exactly the same as all other people. She was also affected by temptations, she also had to struggle with inappropriate desires, like all of us. But She made God the main thing in Her life, refused everything, even marriage and motherhood for His sake. And as a result, it was She who became the One Who changed everything.
Were there any options?
The Annunciation is a holiday established in honor of the visit of the Virgin Mary by the Archangel, when the greeting or prayer was first uttered: “Virgin, rejoice!” The archangel proclaimed to the Mother of God the will of God, but he also asked for Her consent to what was happening. That is, the fate of the whole world and God's plan for people at that moment depended on Her will. But fortunately, this girl (She was only 15 then) answered: “Be Mi according to your verb.” This is also worth learning from the Mother of God: if we pray, we need to trust God to resolve the issue, and not insist on our own.
