By Francis Fernandez-Carvajal
1/38.1 Holy Mary, Mother of God.
How often have we contemplated Mary with the Child in her arms! And Christian piety has inspired the countless different works of art which represent the feast we celebrate today – the Motherhood of Mary. This fundamental fact casts a light that shines out in the life of Mary. It is the foundation of all the other privileges with which God has wished to adorn her. Today we give thanks and praise to God the Father because Mary conceived his only Son: The Holy Spirit came upon her and she conceived your only begotten Son. Without losing her glorious virginity, she brought forth Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is forever the light of the world![574] And from our hearts we sing to her: Hail Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King,[575] for truly the Mother has brought forth the King, whose name is eternal; she who has conceived has at the same time the joy of motherhood and the glory of virginity.[576]Mary is Our Lady, full of grace and virtue, conceived without sin, who is the Mother of God and our Mother, and who dwells both body and soul in heaven. Sacred Scripture refers to her as the most exalted of all creatures, the blessed one, the most praised among women, full of grace,[577] she whom all generations shall call blessed.[578] The Church teaches us that, after Christ, Mary occupies the place that is highest and closest to God, because of her divine motherhood. She, after her son, by the grace of God, was exalted over all angels and men.[579] Through you, O Virgin Mary, have been fulfilled all the oracles of the prophets who announced Christ: being a virgin you conceived the Son of God and, remaining a virgin, you gave birth to him.[580]
All the feasts of Our Lady are great events, because they are opportunities the Church gives us to show with deeds that we love Mary. But if I had to choose one from among all her feasts, I would choose today’s, the feast of the Divine Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin ...
Our Lady will be well pleased to hear us, on this her feast day, repeating many times the aspiration: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
[574] Preface of the Maternity of the Virgin Mary
[575] Entrance Antiphon of the Mass
[576] Divine Office, Lauds, Antiphon 3
[577] Luke 1:28
[578] Luke 1:48
[579] Second Vatican Council, Lumen gentium, 63
[580] Magnificat, Antiphon of 27 December
[581] Gal 4:4
[582] St Cyril of Alexandria, Letter 1, 27:30
[583] Dz Sch, 252
[584] St J. Escrivá, Friends of God, 274
