M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I hope these “installments” of my presentation to the Knights of Columbus in my parish on "How Mary LIVED the ‘Our Father’ " are being of some help to you. Please let me know if you have any questions or if anything has been particularly helpful or not helpful. That can help me in giving any future presentation or in writing future posts. Thanks so much.
I hope these “installments” of my presentation to the Knights of Columbus in my parish on "How Mary LIVED the ‘Our Father’ " are being of some help to you. Please let me know if you have any questions or if anything has been particularly helpful or not helpful. That can help me in giving any future presentation or in writing future posts. Thanks so much.
… The Catechism tells us: “To pray to the Father, is 0”. Mary was always ready to enter more deeply into the Mystery of God, because she was conceived without sin. There was never any obstacle between her and God. He created her sinless from the first moment of her existence. When we first “meet” Mary in the Gospel of Luke, the Angel greets her: “Hail, Full of Grace” The Greek word translated “Full of Grace” is closer to the meaning of “one already transformed by Grace”. Mary was given the privilege of being immaculately conceived because of the vocation she would accept: to be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and to conceive in her womb the Word made Flesh. God also created Mary to be the perfect Mother and Model for His Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.
When the Angel came to her, Mary had already been given and received the fullness of grace, yet she was not given powers beyond her humanity. Mary though sinless remained a human person who continued to grow in her union with God, as she knew Him by His Grace. She was from birth a pure tabernacle sharing the gift of God’s Life. She continually received His Love in all things — and gave all her heart, mind. soul and strength to Him, lovingly, in return.
Because she was always humble before God and a living “Yes” to His Will she refused nothing He asked of her. She kept her heart open to His Grace and He continued to fill her. He continually formed her immaculate heart, grace upon grace. When her cousin Elizabeth sought to praise her for being the Mother of her Lord and for believing what was told to her, Mary immediately responded in joy, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Mary knew nothing was impossible for God who had done such great things for her. She magnified the Lord because of her littleness. She never had, nor does she now have any power but His, nor did she seek anything outside His Will for her. Mary never failed in Faith; she continued to grow in her union with God, especially through trials, becoming stronger in faith, hope and above all charity throughout her life. Mary’s relationship, with God, her union with Him was a continuing reality. Hearing Jesus teach His Sermon on the Mount and the “Our Father” within the context of that sermon, she opened herself to the Holy Spirit for more of the inflowing of God’s Grace, His Life, into her soul…