Dear Parishioners,
I have been saying those words a lot lately. There is comfort in calling upon the Holy Mother of God to help us. There is a great consolation that comes from praying to Mary, gentle Mother. Her humbleness before God and her openness to God are characteristics that make her easy to approach.
Reciting the “Hail Mary” brings a comfort, for it is a beautiful statement that conveys so much. In my meditation upon Mary, I am always brought back to the realization that she carries our humanity and gives it as a gift to Jesus. She reaches out to the divine and offers our identity as human beings. As a young woman, she says “yes” to God, giving over her life to a mystery which she scarcely glimpses. She lays down her life, puts it on the line, makes a judgment that will impact and direct her life completely. She is indeed blessed, and brings her love and dedication to Christ over the years to the Cross. She stands there at the Cross in unimaginable pain and sorrow watching her son die. It is only later that she sees him alive in his resurrected life.
Mary has been remembered and honored over the centuries for her openness, gentleness, humility and persevering the arrow of pain that pierced her heart. She is indeed blessed among women and all humanity for the example she is of how to love and how to use your life in the service of God’s will. I have been thinking as well about the last part of her prayer. Mary pray for us sinners. We continue to need help in our weakness and selfishness. We need God’s intervention in our lives so that we may continue to be in a relationship with Him. But also—and I hope this isn’t too weird—we need to ask Mary to continue to be open to us at the time of our death when we are most alone and most vulnerable. Let us seek the comfort of Mary, especially in the month of May, so that we may take on her beautiful qualities and experience her comforting intercession.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
I have been saying those words a lot lately. There is comfort in calling upon the Holy Mother of God to help us. There is a great consolation that comes from praying to Mary, gentle Mother. Her humbleness before God and her openness to God are characteristics that make her easy to approach.
Reciting the “Hail Mary” brings a comfort, for it is a beautiful statement that conveys so much. In my meditation upon Mary, I am always brought back to the realization that she carries our humanity and gives it as a gift to Jesus. She reaches out to the divine and offers our identity as human beings. As a young woman, she says “yes” to God, giving over her life to a mystery which she scarcely glimpses. She lays down her life, puts it on the line, makes a judgment that will impact and direct her life completely. She is indeed blessed, and brings her love and dedication to Christ over the years to the Cross. She stands there at the Cross in unimaginable pain and sorrow watching her son die. It is only later that she sees him alive in his resurrected life.
Mary has been remembered and honored over the centuries for her openness, gentleness, humility and persevering the arrow of pain that pierced her heart. She is indeed blessed among women and all humanity for the example she is of how to love and how to use your life in the service of God’s will. I have been thinking as well about the last part of her prayer. Mary pray for us sinners. We continue to need help in our weakness and selfishness. We need God’s intervention in our lives so that we may continue to be in a relationship with Him. But also—and I hope this isn’t too weird—we need to ask Mary to continue to be open to us at the time of our death when we are most alone and most vulnerable. Let us seek the comfort of Mary, especially in the month of May, so that we may take on her beautiful qualities and experience her comforting intercession.
Blessings,
Deacon Steve
