August 1, 2024

Uffizi Gallery

The Annunciation (continued)

In the previous issue, I mentioned that the Virgin Mary is also celebrated in songs by The Beatles, citing "Lady Madonna" as an example.

However, there is an even more famous song in which The Beatles praise the Virgin Mary.

It is the all-time classic "Let It Be," a song that most of you are undoubtedly familiar with.

The opening lyrics of the song are as follows:

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me,

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

In this context, "Mother Mary" clearly refers to the Virgin Mary.

The phrase "let it be" is a reference to the words Mary spoke to the Angel Gabriel who told her she would conceive Jesus, as found in the New Testament, Luke 1:38:

"Let it be to me according to your words."

This translates to,

"May it be done to me according to your word,"

meaning

"I will bear the Son of God according to God's will."

Until recently, I thought "let it be" meant "things will work out somehow," but I was mistaken.

Therefore, translating the opening lyrics of "Let It Be" yields:

When I face trouble

The Virgin Mary appears

And speaks words full of wisdom,

"Let it be done according to God's will."

What wonderful lyrics!

Indeed, it would be strange if the wise words of the Virgin Mary were merely "things will work out somehow."

Clearly, "let it be done according to God's will" is the correct interpretation.

There is also a medical condition named after "Mary."

It is known as "Sister Mary Joseph's nodule."

This is a nodule that occurs when cancer metastasizes to the navel, which is known as a skin metastasis and is indicating a poor prognosis (a short life expectancy).

Mary Joseph is the name of the nurse who discovered this condition.

She was a nurse at the predecessor of the famous Mayo Clinic in America, "St. Mary’s Hospital," and reported that many patients with this umbilical change died of stomach cancer. 

Incidentally, even the names of the nurse and the hospital include "Mary" (Maria).