Mary is the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, and the spouse of the Holy Spirit. She is the perfect model of faith, obedience, humility, and love. She is also our mother, who intercedes for us and guides us to her Son.
In this post, I will share with you some of the reasons why I admire and love Mary so much, and why I think she deserves to be honored and praised by all Christians.
1. Mary said yes to God's plan. When the angel Gabriel announced to her that she would conceive and bear the Savior of the world, Mary did not hesitate or doubt. She trusted in God's will and gave her consent: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38) She was only a young girl, probably around 15 years old, but she had the courage and faith to accept such a great responsibility and privilege. This is what I call a strong woman! Mary was assertive in her yes!
2. Mary carried Jesus in her womb for nine months. Imagine what it must have been like for Mary to have God Himself growing inside her. She must have felt His heartbeat, His movements, His presence. She must have talked to Him, sang to Him, prayed with Him. She must have loved Him more than anyone else in the world. She was the first person to see His face, hear Him, to hold Him in her arms, kiss Him, and cuddle Him. She was His first teacher, His first friend, His first disciple.
3. Mary followed Jesus throughout His life. Mary was not only present at Jesus' birth but also at every important moment of His life. She was there when He was presented in the temple when He was lost and found in Jerusalem, when He performed His first miracle at Cana, and when He preached and healed and taught. She was there when He was arrested, tortured, crucified, and buried. She was there when He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. She never left His side, even when it meant suffering with Him and for Him.
4. Mary became the mother of the Church. Before Jesus died on the cross, He gave Mary to John, His beloved disciple, as His mother: "Woman, behold your son." And to John, He said: "Behold your mother." (John 19:26-27) In doing so, He also gave Mary to all of us as our mother. Mary is not only the mother of Jesus but also the mother of all who believe in Him and follow Him. She cares for us as her children, she watches over us as our protector, and she leads us as our queen.
5. Mary is full of grace and glory. Mary is the most blessed among women and among all creatures. She is "full of grace" (Luke 1:28), meaning that she was conceived without original sin and preserved from any personal sin throughout her life. She is "the Immaculate Conception" (Pope Pius IX), meaning that she was always pure and holy in body and soul. She is "assumed into heaven" (Pope Pius XII), meaning that she was taken up body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life. She is "crowned with glory" (Revelation 12:1), meaning that she reigns with Jesus as his co-redemptrix and mediatrix.
6. She continues to help us all. She told the servants at the Wedding of Cana to "do whatever He tells you" (John 2:5). These were her last recorded words in the Gospel, New Testament, and Bible as a whole. To this day she appears to us around the world under many titles. She was Jesus' best disciple which is why He sends her around the world and in different periods of time to appear to specific people to convey a reminder of the Gospel of Love.
7. Mary has helped me immensely in my life. I attribute many miracles to her, physical healings, healing of my hearing, vision, and oncology tests, in my schooling and education. She has always been there for her and I try my best to be there for her and her Son Jesus the Lord. Mary is just awesome!
These are just some of the reasons why I love Mary and why I think she is the greatest woman ever. She is my mother, my sister, my friend, my queen. She is my inspiration, my hope, my joy.
I invite you to join me in honoring Mary this month by praying the rosary daily, wearing a scapular or a miraculous medal, reading a book about her life or devotion to her, visiting a shrine or a church dedicated to her, or simply talking to her as you would talk to your own mother.
Let us thank God for giving us such a wonderful gift: Mary, the Virgin Mother of God. Ave Maria!
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