Oct
27
2005
0
By Anonymous (not verified)
We know that from the height of the cross, Jesus turned His dying countenance to His Mother, His sole treasure on earth. "When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home" (Jn:26-27). In the person of John, Jesus had intended to embrace the whole world. St. Bernadine of Sienna said that in those precious moments, Mary became our Mother as well. While Jesus was praying on the Cross, Mary was praying beneath it, with the holy women and John. Jesus' Heart was pierced with a lance; Mary's heart was pierced as if by a sword.
Thus, the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of His suffering, joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother's heart, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim born of her: to be given, by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross, as a mother to his disciple with these words: "Woman, behold your Son."
Our Blessed Virgin told St. Bridget that no matter how many sins a man has committed, if he comes to her with a desire to change his life, she welcomes him. She is always ready to soothe and heal the gaping wounds of his soul. That is why her name is "Mother of Mercy." Just as any good mother would want to soothe her child, so Mary wants to soothe the gaping wounds of our souls. We all know the tenderness and love we feel for our children. Can we imagine our Blessed Mother's tenderness for each one of us? She looks upon each one of us as her own special child. And as her own Son was crucified, we then became her only sons and daughters. What a treasure to have a mother so full of love and grace, ready to give us all that we need, and to draw us closer to her Son! She told St. Faustina, "I am Mother to you all, thanks to the unfathomable mercy of God. Most pleasing to Me is that soul which faithfully carries out the will of God.... Be courageous. Do not fear apparent obstacles, but fix your gaze upon the Passion of My Son, and in this way you will be victorious" (Diary, 449).
Mary is always trying to point the way to her Son, always leading her children to her Son. In her deep humility and meekness of heart, listen to her words in her canticle from Luke 1: 46-50: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, and he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever."
The Eucharist is therefore, absolutely central to the Church's life and apostolate. We can be confident that the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of the Eucharist, will fire us with some of her own zeal for God's kingdom in ourselves and in others.
Mary has been given to the Church by God as a perfect model and icon of that holiness toward which He calls us all. She fires our minds and kindles our hearts with her own burning love of God and neighbor. Her complete submission to the Divine Will, encourages us to do likewise. Her patience under the most trying circumstances, her courage in bearing her crosses, her initiatives of charity and service toward people in need, these and all her virtues establish our Heavenly Mother as the pattern and ideal of Christ-like sanctity.
Mother Teresa writes in her well-known prayer, "Mary, Mother of Jesus, give us your heart, so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate, so full of love and humility, that we may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life, love Him as you love Him, and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor."
As we yearn for heaven and our heavenly Father, let us put our hand into Mary's hand. She will lead us and guide us to her Son and home to our Father in heaven.
"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us, who have recourse to Thee."
Thus, the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of His suffering, joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother's heart, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim born of her: to be given, by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross, as a mother to his disciple with these words: "Woman, behold your Son."
Our Blessed Virgin told St. Bridget that no matter how many sins a man has committed, if he comes to her with a desire to change his life, she welcomes him. She is always ready to soothe and heal the gaping wounds of his soul. That is why her name is "Mother of Mercy." Just as any good mother would want to soothe her child, so Mary wants to soothe the gaping wounds of our souls. We all know the tenderness and love we feel for our children. Can we imagine our Blessed Mother's tenderness for each one of us? She looks upon each one of us as her own special child. And as her own Son was crucified, we then became her only sons and daughters. What a treasure to have a mother so full of love and grace, ready to give us all that we need, and to draw us closer to her Son! She told St. Faustina, "I am Mother to you all, thanks to the unfathomable mercy of God. Most pleasing to Me is that soul which faithfully carries out the will of God.... Be courageous. Do not fear apparent obstacles, but fix your gaze upon the Passion of My Son, and in this way you will be victorious" (Diary, 449).
Mary is always trying to point the way to her Son, always leading her children to her Son. In her deep humility and meekness of heart, listen to her words in her canticle from Luke 1: 46-50: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, and he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever."
The Eucharist is therefore, absolutely central to the Church's life and apostolate. We can be confident that the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of the Eucharist, will fire us with some of her own zeal for God's kingdom in ourselves and in others.
Mary has been given to the Church by God as a perfect model and icon of that holiness toward which He calls us all. She fires our minds and kindles our hearts with her own burning love of God and neighbor. Her complete submission to the Divine Will, encourages us to do likewise. Her patience under the most trying circumstances, her courage in bearing her crosses, her initiatives of charity and service toward people in need, these and all her virtues establish our Heavenly Mother as the pattern and ideal of Christ-like sanctity.
Mother Teresa writes in her well-known prayer, "Mary, Mother of Jesus, give us your heart, so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate, so full of love and humility, that we may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life, love Him as you love Him, and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor."
As we yearn for heaven and our heavenly Father, let us put our hand into Mary's hand. She will lead us and guide us to her Son and home to our Father in heaven.
"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us, who have recourse to Thee."
