Archives
May 2, 2010
The Mysteries of Glory
The Resurrection
The Ascension of our Lord
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The Assumption of our Lady into Heaven
The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
MARY AND MYSELF
Our Lady will give us a deeper understanding of Mary and myself through the five Mysteries of Glory.
”They devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread.”
Acts 2:42
MEDITATING upon your life, Mary, fills me with deepest admiration. But you care very little about that. Admiration is an easy virtue. You want more than awe; you want imitation. You want me to love your Son as you loved Him; to love my family and relatives as you loved Joseph and Elizabeth; to love my friends as you loved your neighbors in Nazareth; to love and pray for my enemies as you prayed for those who crucified your Son.
Mary help me to imitate your love - to imitate Christ.
II. THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD
”Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed, that you may discern the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:2
WHEN you appear in the Gospels, Mary, you avoid extremes. If asked to be God’s Mother, another girl might have pleaded her unworthiness, or become self-complacent; but your consent came from your humility. Of course, you went “hastily” to Elizabeth; but then, charity requires no delay! At Cana, where Jesus seemed to refuse your request, you neither lost confidence nor got angry with Him; instead you quietly told the waiters, “Do as He tells you.” On Calvary, you weren’t overcome by grief or anger; you stood by your Son. And when He ascended to heaven you neither tried to delay Him, nor mourned His going; you returned to Jerusalem to pray.
Mary, teach me the virtue of avoiding extremes in my conduct.
III. THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
”Peace be with you.”
Luke 24:36
THE Apostles were blessed on Pentecost; and perhaps the most remarkable grace was their newborn desire to suffer for Christ. Not merely the resigned acceptance of suffering but joy of heart in the midst of contempt and persecution. You did not need to receive that grace on Pentecost, Mary. It had been conceived in your heart long before, when Jesus was conceived in your womb. You knew the Old Testament prophecies. You knew the Messiah would one day suffer. You knew He would be disfigured so inhumanely He would no longer look like a man. But you also knew Jesus had said He would be safe at the right hand of the Father who loved Him as only God can love.
Mary, help me to be patient and trust God.
IV. THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY INTO HEAVEN
”The Virgin Mary cooperated through free faith and obedience in human salvation. She uttered her yes in the name of all human nature.”
St. Thomas Aquinas
WHEN you were assumed to heaven, Mary, two of your noblest virtues dissolved in the light of glory. Your faith melted into sight, hope blossomed into reality. While on earth, you lived the most perfect life of faith the world has ever known. Mere reason did not tell you that Jesus was God. You believed it; you took God’s word for it. When you saw your Son dying on the cross, you did not see God being reconciled with the world. You believed it because Jesus had declared that, by His death, He would draw all things to Himself.
Mary, help me to live a “life of faith” - to believe and to act accordingly.
V. THE CORONATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
”Mary’s function as a mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power.”
Catechism No. 970
MANY not understanding you, Mary, don’t know how to love you. They think there should be no one between them and God. They don’t realize that your sole interest lies in bringing us closer to God.
I love you because Jesus did - I love you because Jesus told us to behold our mother. I know you love me because Jesus told you to behold us. The rest is beyond my understanding.
Mary, come with me as I journey to the Father in the way your Son has taught me to travel. Guide me.