Even to the Ends of the Earth, the Blessed Mother Travels with Us

I've become fascinated with a blog called "One for the Journey," written by a woman named Carrie who lives and works at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, at the bottom of the world. Her writing is detailed and clear. I feel like I am right there with her as she stands in awe of the landscape and also knits to pass time. Her photographs are spectacular.

I learned from Carrie's blog the other day that Antarctica includes a statue of our Blessed Mother, called "Our Lady of the Snows," A.K.A. "Roll Cage Mary."  It is a memorial to a man who died when his bulldozer fell through the ice. In 1995, the statue was restored by a group of Carmelite nuns from Christchurch, New Zealand.

Should you ever find yourself in Antarctica, this statue will remind you the Blessed Mother travels with you.

HAIL HOLY QUEEN, mother of mercy; our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.