Mary

I love what St. Louis de Montefort says of Mary, in the very first pages of his classic work of Marian contemplation. He says that we know so little of her because she is so humble, and that humility led her to desire anonymity during her life, and God granted her request. He says she was capable of the same healings Christ and the Apostles performed, but that her works have been hidden from posterity, because of her great humility, and her desire not to draw attention away from her son.

Moreover, we are told that Jesus could not have been the Son of God, had he not been raised by such a pure and devout woman. Indeed, that God waited until such a pure vessel could be found, before sending his son into the world. Mary is the way to Christ, as Christ is the way to God the Father. Mary will only gain in the world before the time of Christ. She must. He cannot come unless she prepares the way, and gives birth to him, on every level. Thich Naht Hanh speaks about holding our pain like it is a newborn baby... cradling it so tenderly, focusing all our compassion upon it; essentially, becoming mothers to ourselves, and to what is weakest, smallest, youngest, least developed, and most vulnerable within ourselves. It is in this manner that we may prepare the way for the coming of the Lord in his fullness. When we are tender, then we will be given a power which nothing in the world can withstand. Our tenderness is that power, as Mary is the Christ.

I asked a Protestant her opinion. She said, "We respect and appreciate Mary,".

My friends, is this how you speak of your own mother? Do you "respect and appreciate" her? Or do you love her? You love her. Of course you do. Well, then, how much more love might you be capable of feeling for the mother of all mothers; the greatest of all mothers; the mother of God; who loves you infinitely and unconditionally more than your natural mother ever could? Despite her best efforts, and no matter how much she desperately wanted to, your mother could never love you with a fraction of Mary's love, which is God's; for He has placed every grace at her disposal, and appointed her to deliver His gifts, juat as He appointed her to deliver His Son. Mary is the mother of all the Christians, all the children of God, all the siblings of Christ. Your own mother raised you to be in the world, but Mary raises you to be in the Church, and in the kingdom of heaven.

She is the beloved handmaid of God, and the personification of purity, meekness, tenderness, and compassion. We are told that her virtue surpasses that of all the saints, apostles, and disciples, and that she is second only to Jesus, who is God, -- but among mortals she has no equal. What sort of admiration and respect might such a soul evoke within you? I tell you, the only emotion you could experience in the presence of Mary is love; complete and total love; admiration which goes beyond admiration; respect which flys over respect; reverence, humility, and awe which cannot be uttered.

Christ said, "[Had you known me, you would have known the one who sent me, and had you known the Father, you would have known the Son.]" Well, the same may be said of Mary, for had we known her, we would have known Christ who was with her, and had we known the Son we would have known the Mother who nurtured him, who was divinely ordained to minister to him when he was only an infant, and whom he loves.