Mary Woman of Faith

A Trusting Heart!

Saturday, November 13^th    

Word of God:  Luke 1: 34

And Mary said: “How can this be since I am a virgin?”

Commentary:  (“Mary and Your Everyday Life” by B. Haring p. 17)

Unlike Zechariah, Mary has no doubts that the revelation will be fulfilled.  Yet, she humbly asks what her cooperation in this wonderful event will be?  It is the payer of the one who, like all of us, lives in faith, but with a fullness and sincerity that makes her the model of the Church.  Since Mary is total openness to the will of God, she teaches us how to search for nothing other than to know and do the will of God.

Rosary (or at least a decade):

Let us ask to always be attentive to the still, small voice of God within us, calling us to live in total openness to His will.

To Ponder:

Do you ever hear God’s quiet voice leading you to awe and wonder, or calling you to try to be or do better, as events and people in life challenge you?

Let us pray:

We thank you, Father, and we praise for choosing Mary to bear your Son. You prepared and guided her along her journey.  Mary, our Mother, prepare and guide us as we journey through each day toward our final destination.    Amen.

A Courageous Heart!

Sunday, November 14^th

Word of God:  Luke 1: 34-35

Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be since I am a virgin?’  The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will over-shadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.’

Commentary:   (“My Rosary Journal” by W. Maestri  p. 5)

On first reflection it can seem strange to speak of Mary’s courageous faith.  After all, she is a young woman and by her own admission “a lowly handmaid”.  Luke tells us that Mary was “deeply disturbed” by the words of the angel Gabriel.  However, grace builds on human nature, and Mary’s response, coming from the heart, is courageous.

Rosary (or at least a decade):

Let us pray for our youth and young people all over the world that they respond to God’s call with courage.

To Ponder:

Review how long it took you to realize that God was calling you to build on your human nature and become more and more who you are today?

Let us pray:

O Mary, virgin and mother, Mother of the Son of God and our mother also, pray for us, that like you, we might seek only one thing:  the will of God.  May all your people seek his will with the same humility and purity of heart that distinguishes your faith and courage.  Amen.

A Loving Heart!

Monday, November 15^th 

Word of God: Luke 1: 38

Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’

Commentary:   (“My Rosary Journal” by W. Maestri  p. 5)

Mary was, first of all, a woman totally in love with her God. Her being is animated by her love.  It is this love for God which frees her to overcome the anxiety and confusion that might have kept her from trusting the angel.  By saying “Yes” to God, Mary became the model for all of us who are trying to put meaning into our lives, who want to pursue the road to sanctity, who reach out for strength in time of trial and suffering.

Rosary (or at least a decade):

Let us pray for all those who are finding it difficult to say ‘yes’ to the will of God in their lives.

To Ponder:

Can you give examples of how often your love of God impels you to put meaning into your life in order to pursue the road to sanctity?

Let us pray:

O Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for your humble “yes.”  You did not want to be anything other than a servant of God.  We ask you for the grace to respond with all our heart and with all our being to whatever is asked of us.  Amen.

A Grateful Heart:

Tuesday, November 16^th    

Word of God:  Luke 1: 46-47

And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.’

Commentary:   (“Mary’s Song” Mary Catherine Nolan  p. 18)

Mary sings forth her gratitude to God.  Gratitude is an attitude, a stance toward life.  In later life, Mary surely remembered the time of gratitude at the beginning of her motherhood.  An attitude of gratitude anchors us in hope that whatever suffering the circumstances of life inflict upon us, all is meaningful in God’s regard for us.  All has led to the present moment of our lives, and life itself is good!

Rosary (or at least a decade):

Let us pray in gratitude for ourselves, our loved ones, for all the graces received throughout our lives.

To Ponder:

“Gratitude is an attitude of heart that enables us to count our blessings, in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. It nurtures a particular beauty and reverence in our humanity.”  (Monica Brown)

How often are you grateful for all that God has accomplished, with you, in your life?

Let us pray:

We praise you Father, for all the wondrous things you have done in Mary, your humble and grateful servant.  As her children, we praise you for giving her to us as our mother.

And we thank you for all the wonders you have done for each of us in our lives.   Amen

A Servant Heart:

Wednesday, November 17^th 

Word of God:  Luke 1: 39

Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

Commentary:    (“Mary” Fr. K. Roberts p. 66)

Elizabeth is having a baby!  Being past childbearing age, she will need someone to help her.  Mary, God’s lowly servant, transformed by grace, unselfishly bears the presence of God to her cousin.  Our most important service lies in bearing the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us to others.  In this, Mary is our model of servanthood.

Rosary (or at least a decade):

We pray in thanksgiving for the gift of service, and ask Mary to intercede for all those who serve others in any way.

To Ponder:

How often and in what ways do you bring the transforming presence of God with you in your daily encounters?

Let us pray:

Mary, handmaid of the Lord, we look to you to teach us how to be God’s servant.  Walk beside us and assist us in our service.  Obtain for us the grace to see the presence of your Son in everyone we meet today.  We ask this in Jesus’ name.  Amen

A Prayerful Heart:

Thursday, November 18^th

Word of God:  Luke 2: 51

So Jesus went back with his parents to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.  Mary treasured all these things in her heart.

Commentary:  (“My Rosary Journal” by W. Maestri  p. 30)

Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus meant when he said: “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business.”  We do not always understand completely the events of life.  We must imitate the wisdom of Mary.  She ‘kept all these things in her heart’.  It is in patient hope that all the “whys” of our lives will be answered.

Rosary (or at least a decade):

There is a grace, a power of the Spirit, which each person must be open to follow.  Let us ask for that grace for ourselves and all those we encounter today.

To Ponder:

How often do you pray, or ponder in the depth of your heart, the people or events that challenge you?

Let us pray:

Lord God, our Father, make us holy, make us one in your love.  Mary, pray for us that we may treasure the words of Jesus in our hearts as you did.  May we be patient and faithful in our common effort to reach a deeper understanding of the words of Jesus and a fuller discernment of the signs of our times.  Amen.

A Compassionate Heart:

Friday, November 19^th 

Word of God:  John 2: 3, 5

There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee.  When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”  His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Commentary:  (“Mary and Your Everyday Life” by B. Haring p. 93)

That Mary brings the matter before her Son expresses her compassion and indicates inspiration by the Holy Spirit.  She does not tell Jesus what to do.  Her prayer is courageous and at the same time humble.  This is a model for our prayer.  Are we not sometimes tempted to tell God what he should do instead of simply opening our needs to him and asking him for the grace that our wills may be totally conformed to his will?  In a humble prayer like that of Mary, we come to realize that the Lord always knows better what is truly good for us!

Rosary (or at least a decade):   Let us pray for all those who have asked for our prayer and those in need of prayer.

To Ponder:   ‘Are we not sometimes tempted to tell God what he should do instead of simply opening our needs to him and asking him for the grace that our wills may be totally conformed to his will?’  Which way do you most often pray? Why?

Let us pray:

We praise you, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grant us your grace that in this event and in all events in our lives, we may discover the profound meaning of doing your will.  O Mary, how beautiful is your compassionate and trusting prayer!  Pray for us that we, like you at Cana, may learn to intercede for each other, being always ready to bear each other’s burdens.  Amen.

A Mother’s Heart:  

Saturday, November 2o^th

Word of God:  John 19: 25-27

Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman here is your son.’  Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’  And from that moment the disciple took her into his home.

Commentary: (“Mary and Your Everyday Life” by B. Haring p. 114)

We are invited by these words of Jesus to venerate Mary’s spiritual motherhood.  It unites us in a special way in the all-embracing solidarity of salvation… the bearing of one another’s burdens… that has its source, center and summit in Jesus Christ.  We rightly venerate Mary as Mother of the Church.  And we honor her truly when we live as fully as possible the saving event, bearing the burden of one another, praying and suffering that, finally, all may be one in the love of Christ.

Rosary (or at least a decade):  Let us pray for all mothers, especially those grieving the loss of a child.

To Ponder:  Are you capable of praying and suffering with those in need rather than walking away because you may feel inadequate?

Let us pray:    We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have given us everything in Jesus Christ, your only begotten Son, our Mediator and Savior.  And we thank you that you have given Mary to us in a unique spiritual motherhood.  May your Holy Spirit come upon us so that, with Mary, we may live in the unity of faith, hope and love and bear fruit for the life of the world.  Amen. 

Presentation of Mary

A Pure Heart:  

Sunday, November 21^st

Word of God:  Luke 1: 38

And Mary said: “I am the servant of the Lord.  Let it be done to me according to your word.”

Commentary:    (“My Rosary Journal” by W. Maestri  p. 5)

Purity of heart denotes a radical centering or focusing of one’s whole life in the will of God.  So it is with Mary.  Her heart is so pure because she wills one thing only: to do God’s will.  These words come from a pure heart.  They resound with a faith that completely trusts.

Rosary (or at least a decade):

Let us pray for the grace to follow in Mary’s footsteps, offering our lives as she did so that the Father’s will be done.

To Ponder: 

‘Purity of heart denotes a radical centering or focusing of one’s whole life in the will of God.’  How has this been done in your life?

Let us pray:

O Mary, virgin and mother, Mother of the Son of God made man in you, and our mother, pray for us. May we, like you, seek only one thing:  a radical focusing of our whole life in the will of God, with the same humility and purity of heart that distinguished your faith.  Amen.

Woman of Faith

Have a blessed Presentation Day