For generations, the month of May has been dedicated to honouring Mary, the Mother of God. Traditionally, May processions were held, May altars were decorated, the Rosary was prayed etc.. We can easily relate to this woman, whose life was mainly unknown and hidden. The few verses of Scripture that refer to her give us glimpses of her huge courage, her great trust, her intuitive compassion, her unwavering faith.
She was a person totally open to the transforming power of the Spirit of God (Luke 1: 39-55). Her active ‘YES’ to God’s plan made her, in a special way Theotokos, a carrier of Jesus, God’s son.
Her Magnificat prayer is bursting with her gratitude, humility and faith. “My soul glorifies the Lord….who has done great things for me..”
I ask: How grateful am I to God?
What am I grateful for?
Mary as Mother is ever relevant. She lovingly reared her son with all the challenges that parenthood brings. She is our Mother too, caring for us. She stayed faithful, despite awful suffering, “She stood by the Cross” as her only child was tortured to death.
How do I deal with suffering?
Through it all, Mary, like us, was a learning disciple, a follower, a beacon of feminine presence and power and so we pray: “Hail Mary, full of grace….pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”
Author: Sr Sally Hyland ssjg
A Prayer:
“May I have the courage today to live
the life that I would love…to postpone
my dream no longer.
But do at last what I came here for and
waste my heart on fear no more”
From: John O’Donohue
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