The Catholic Church teaches as dogma that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” This was declared as dogma by Pope Pius XII on November 1st, 1950. Since it was declared as dogma, we, as Catholics, are required to believe this as a truth revealed by God.
As Lay Carmelites we turn to Mary as our mother and sister. We are called to live out our lives in imitation of how she lived out her life. She was always open to doing the Holy Will of God.
In the Gospel of St. Luke, we hear of the angel Gabriel approaching Mary and telling her that she will be the Mother of the Messiah. Since she was not yet married, and as yet had not any marital relations, she was confused as to how this will happen. Gabriel’s response was, “Behold, you will conceive inyour womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great andwill be called Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:31-32). Her response, after being explained that the Holy Spirit will descend upon her, was her fiat (yes): “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) Mary was open to God’s will, even if this would mean problems or difficulties in her life. She fully accepted God’s Will, with all it’s challenges in following it.
Then, after learning that her elderly cousin, Elizabeth,
was pregnant with John the Baptist, she went to give her help and support to
Elizabeth. Once Elizabeth said, “…how does this happen to me,that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43), Mary responded with the
beautiful Magnificat, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spiritrejoices in God my savior…” (Luke 1:46-47)
Mary’s whole life was that of being open to the will of God through contemplation, and then taking what she heard brought it to others. We can learn from Our Lady. Through praying and mediating daily on the Liturgy of the Hours, and by attending Mass Sunday (and if possible daily), we can bring what we hear through scripture to those in our lives.
Let us daily pray,
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.”
Very good reflection. I love the Gospel accounts of the Annunciation & the Visitation. I think of the event of the Visitation as a wonderful model for those of us who bring the Eucharist to people who are confined to their homes, hospital rooms, rehabilitation facilities and/or nursing homes. Mary was the first to bring JESUS, hidden in her womb, to her cousin Elizabeth, & we bring JESUS, hidden under the appearance of Bread, to those confined.
ReplyDeleteI have also read that when Mary went to help her cousin Elizabeth she received a confirmation & reassurance that what she had been told was not a dream or illusion but was really true so now she was free to & empowered by the Holy Spirit to tejoice.