The Divine Maternity

O Mary, my Mother, by the merits of thy Divine Son, obtain for me the grace to faithfully and generously give myself to Him!

The Son of God chose to be, St. Bernadine writes, the "servant of Our Lady". By His obedience to her, He teaches us with what great respect we ought heed her command and example, while her life, deeply entwined with His, points to the depth of union for which we aspire. She who ever listened for His Word, responded in a rich response of faith, an active obedience. Her "Fiat" led to His humble, obedient Nativity; His last cry, "Into Your hands I commend my spirit", led to her pieta; His ascension announcement, "I return to the Father," 

became in a sense ​her sentiments at her Assumption. In all things and in all ways, she is our exemplar as we strive, in union with her, to make of our lives an offering to God. Her unqualified "yes" teaches us that the way of our sanctification is obedience to the will of the Father. Her simple "Fiat" was a response of faith of such depth and totality that its fruit was eternal fidelity. It is for this that we pray and beseech her help: that our vows, especially that of obedience, never become empty, but that in fruitful submission to the will of God we too may be eternally faithful to Him who is ever faithful.

Mosaic from the apse of Santa Maria in Trastevere

Loving Him and imitating Him throughout her life, co-redeeming with Him through His Passion, nurturing His Holy Church in its infancy, His Mother merited to reign with Him in splendor. "Close to the throne of honor where her Son, the King of ages, reigns in justice and in power; there she is proclaimed Queen, there she will reign for evermore in mercy and in goodness (Gueranger)." It is this divine and marvelous mystery that we commemorate today as we celebrate the Divine Maternity of Mary, and we implore her aid as we strive to imitate her Divine Son.

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!