She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God. (Revelation 12:5-6)
The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold. (Psalm 45:10bc)
The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.”(1 Corinthians 15:26-27)
And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.” (Luke 1:46-50)
Piety
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, 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 merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.
Study
She is perfect, of course, born without the taint of original sin. But she need not be some distant, unreachable figure, some beautiful woman on an icon. Mary is real.
Mary is real in the example of surrender she sets for us. Nearly a child herself, she gives her fiat to God’s plan, and has the wisdom to give honor to Him, and know that this is all about Him, not about the gossip and ridicule to which she will be subjected.
Mary is real in the example of faithfulness she sets for us. She soldiers on, despite what she hears from Simeon at the Presentation, despite her Son’s protest at Cana that it’s not time.
Mary is real in the example of fearlessness she sets for us. She sets aside her own agony and sorrow to be present to her beloved son at the Crucifixion because she knew this is all about Him, not about her.
Mary is real in her Canticle, thanking the Lord for looking upon her with favor and proclaiming His greatness. In her examples of surrender, faithfulness, and fearlessness, may we be guided to find and live our own Canticle.
Action
Pray with Mary today in gratitude for the great things the Almighty has done for you.
Credit on the tapestry image: By Tangopaso (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
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