Jan 1 Mon
As we begin the New Year, let us celebrate the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and let us adore her Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The Church invites us to consider the central mystery of Mary's life: a gift more wonderful than words can describe, that of being the Mother of God. This is the source of all the prerogatives which God in his wisdom bestowed upon our Lady.
Besides being the Mother of God, our Lady is also the Mother of each one of us. She loves us, cares for us, consoles us, and encourages us to return to the Father's house whenever we are far from God.
Mary is always at our side, ready to intercede before her Son when we don't act as we should, provided we take refuge in her motherly affection. We appeal to our Lady in words taken from a hymn which Christians have addressed to her for centuries: “Break the captives' fetters, bring light to the blind, drive away our ills, and ask every blessing for us.”
St. Josemaría invites us to “make a personal resolution: not to let anything human bother us, however serious it may appear, as long as we go to God through our Lady. And we do so through the Confession and spiritual “coaching”. The result will be a haven of peace, and our Lord will smile at us, seeing the human way in which we act. And as he forgives us, he will think: this one has learned his lesson: now he'll be more faithful to me."
“If a little child does something wrong, breaking a valuable object, for instance, he sometimes tries to run away from his mother's arms. He doesn't realize that she doesn't always want to catch him to spank him, but she wants to console him, to press him to her heart and smother him in kisses."
“This is what I'm trying to tell you: trust God completely and make up your mind not to run away from him. The best sign that we're not trying to escape is to be sincere in the spiritual “coaching”, and clear in Confession. Don't get all worked up when you have made a mistake –that wouldn't be sorrow, but pride. Keep calm and return to God your Father's house; there we will always find the immense tenderness and understanding of our holy Mother Mary waiting for us."
Thank you, my God –the Father, Son and Holy Spirit– for giving us Mary as our Mother as well. She knows the clay we are made of; she understands our defects; and after we have gone astray, she helps us, in that wonderfully gentle and affectionate manner of hers, to return to your Love.
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