M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Tomorrow, May 1, we begin the month traditionally dedicated to Mary, and we also celebrate Mary’s Husband. The Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, on May 1, is one of two Feasts of St. Joseph on the Liturgical Calendar - the other being March 19, Feast of the Solemnity of St. Joseph. It seems very fitting to begin Mary’s month in this way.
My own devotion to St. Joseph began, as did my special devotion to Mary, as a teenager in the Legion of Mary. I’ve told this story before but bear with me please, as I relate it once more. The Dominican Sister who was the Spiritiual Director of our Legion in High School, told us on her way to our meeting she passed a statue of Mary near the door of the Convent and she said to Mary: “Mother, what shall I speak to the girls about this evening?” Sister told us, "Mary said: ‘Tell them about my husband’ ".
Of course we all understood that Sister did not hear any audible voice or have a vision of Mary but it was Sister’s way of sharing with us what God inspired in her mind and heart. Honestly I cannot remember what she said about St. Joseph that night but simply the thought of Joseph’s being Mary’s husband was something I had never heard, nor ever pondered, before that night. It was the beginning for me of seeing both Mary and Joseph in a new way – as a married couple. Now that I am married myself I can appreciate even more how much love there was in that humble home at Nazareth. I can better understand how not only Jesus in His Sacred Humanity grew in wisdom, age, and grace (Luke 2:52) but so did Mary and Joseph continue to grow spiritually in His presence.
Tomorrow is Sunday and the Sunday Liturgy will take precedence, but I hope many of the clergy who will be preaching tomorrow will include something about this unique and beautiful Holy Family.
Today, Saturday, I pray especially to Our Lady to help us all to be as she was, and is, the Icon of the Church. Like Mary we are called to bring Jesus into the world; while she brought Him physically, we are called to bring Him spiritually to others. By Baptism we share in His Divine Life and by Confirmation we have been especially sent to carry on, as Mary did, the Mission of Jesus to evangelize – to bring the good news of God’s Love to all.
Tomorrow, May 1, we begin the month traditionally dedicated to Mary, and we also celebrate Mary’s Husband. The Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, on May 1, is one of two Feasts of St. Joseph on the Liturgical Calendar - the other being March 19, Feast of the Solemnity of St. Joseph. It seems very fitting to begin Mary’s month in this way.
My own devotion to St. Joseph began, as did my special devotion to Mary, as a teenager in the Legion of Mary. I’ve told this story before but bear with me please, as I relate it once more. The Dominican Sister who was the Spiritiual Director of our Legion in High School, told us on her way to our meeting she passed a statue of Mary near the door of the Convent and she said to Mary: “Mother, what shall I speak to the girls about this evening?” Sister told us, "Mary said: ‘Tell them about my husband’ ".
Of course we all understood that Sister did not hear any audible voice or have a vision of Mary but it was Sister’s way of sharing with us what God inspired in her mind and heart. Honestly I cannot remember what she said about St. Joseph that night but simply the thought of Joseph’s being Mary’s husband was something I had never heard, nor ever pondered, before that night. It was the beginning for me of seeing both Mary and Joseph in a new way – as a married couple. Now that I am married myself I can appreciate even more how much love there was in that humble home at Nazareth. I can better understand how not only Jesus in His Sacred Humanity grew in wisdom, age, and grace (Luke 2:52) but so did Mary and Joseph continue to grow spiritually in His presence.
Tomorrow is Sunday and the Sunday Liturgy will take precedence, but I hope many of the clergy who will be preaching tomorrow will include something about this unique and beautiful Holy Family.
Today, Saturday, I pray especially to Our Lady to help us all to be as she was, and is, the Icon of the Church. Like Mary we are called to bring Jesus into the world; while she brought Him physically, we are called to bring Him spiritually to others. By Baptism we share in His Divine Life and by Confirmation we have been especially sent to carry on, as Mary did, the Mission of Jesus to evangelize – to bring the good news of God’s Love to all.
