Daily Devotion to the Theotokos

 Thirtieth Day of the Month

"O thornless rose of ineffable beauty, thou didst bud forth on the border of paradise. For through thine unopened gate, the gate was opened, and through thy sacred icon thou dost call the Canadian people to enter in, proclaiming Thyself to be their Protectress and defense against the enemy. Wherefore we cry unto thee: rejoice joy of Canada." (Kontakion for The Joy of Canada)

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Theotokos, our God and Saviour has given you to us as a special gift of grace. He chose you out of all humanity to be the representative of all of us.

Since you fulfilled your great mission with complete obedience and humility, you have become a prayerful inspiration to all the faithful. In you, we see the fulfillment of all Christ's promises to our human race. In your birth-giving, we see that Christ will truly abide in us. In your ever-virginity, we see the victory over the passions which Christ has made possible. In your Dormition, we see the certainty of Christ's victory over death, and sure proof of the resurrection of all mankind.

To the race and generations of the faithful, O Full of grace, you are as a most beautiful spiritual rose. We reverently chant that "you budded forth on the border of paradise," because you, being the most nearly perfect of our race, came near to that paradise which Adam and Eve had lost.

We proclaim that the gate of paradise, closed by our foreparents' sin, has been reopened by Christ who was born from you. The gate of your virginity remained unopened and unbroken, and by your virgin birth, the fiery angels were turned aside, and the way to paradise was opened. "I am the way. . ." the Saviour proclaimed. The "way" into paradise was born from you, O Most Pure one.

Since we see these victories of Christ proved in you, and we behold the grace and boldness which God has given to you as His special servant and minister, we call you a protector and defense against the enemy.

In our weakness and sinfulness, O Virgin, the enemy often tempts us to doubt or to become careless in our spiritual life. Often we are led into spiritual delusions and temptations. When we call on you in prayer, however, we once more see the proof of Christ's words, and the truth is made clear to us once more. Your very life, your example and your presence are a protection against the deceits of Satan.

As you are the Mother of "The Way, the Truth and the Life," you call out to all nations and peoples to follow that "Way and enter again into paradise." Hearing this call, we reverently chant to you:

"O royal portal through whom the Eternal King came forth. O unbroken seal of the promise, we thy people rejoice in thy sacred icon which has blessed thy sacred monastery and doth shine forth the light of grace to all the land of Canada. Wherefore we beseech thee, open to us the gate of paradise, for thou art the hope of all who take refuge in thee." (Troparion for the Joy of Canada)