Mother of God – Mother of Love
Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
I know some of you have seen this before but it is such a lovely devotion to Mary. I invite you to pray it with me today.
I wrote it a couple of years ago and pray it often. It helps me to remember the kind of woman I am called to be. And, for the men among you, it should help you give thanks for the strong women in your life.
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Mary, Woman of Strength – woman undeterred by the difficulties and obstacles that life placed before you. Woman who was not cowed by the gossip about her unwed pregnancy. Woman who was widowed young. Woman who stood against the expectations of her time believing in God’s fidelity.
Hail Mary…
Mary, Woman of Courage – woman willing to speak up and speak out, to ask the hard questions even in the face of what seemed impossible and overwhelming. Woman who spoke boldly to an angel and questioned the will of God, saying “How can this be?”
Hail Mary…
Mary, Undaunted Woman – woman unafraid to stand in your truth even when looking into the eyes of your resistant son– woman who told the waiters at a wedding, “Do what he tells you” and then walked away, knowing her son would do as she asked.
Hail Mary…
Mary, Woman of Fidelity – woman who did what she believed she needed to do even when the odds were long, and the trials were many. Woman who followed the journeys of her adult son knowing it would lead to an ugly end. Woman who stood next to her son through it all.
Hail Mary…
Mary, Determined Woman – woman, pregnant herself, setting out across hostile territory to visit her older cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant and needing her. Woman traveling more than 80 miles on foot when in the full term of her own pregnancy. Woman doing what needed to be done.
Hail Mary…
Mary, Proud Woman – woman proud of her son, proud of the boy she raised, proud of the man he became, proud of the work he did, proud of the message he preached, proud of his fidelity to God, and proud too, even of the honor he brought to the death he endured with the words, “Forgive them”.
Hail Mary…
Mary, Woman Who said “No” – woman who’s one “Yes” led to many “No’s.” Woman who said “No” to a convention that would have humiliated her in her pregnancy, “No” to standing back and not speaking her mind, “No” to those who mocked and ridiculed her son, “No” to those who told her to step back and not walk with her son on the journey to Calvary, “No” to those who called her back from the horror as she embraced the cross on which her son died.
Hail Mary…
Mary, Woman Leader in a Man’s World – woman who took the lead after her son’s death and resurrection and gathered with the Apostles providing leadership and hope keeping them together in their fear and doubt. Woman who was there when the Spirit came standing in the center of the Apostles, one with them in the Holy Spirit, one with them in the presence of God.
Hail Mary…
Mary, Resilient Woman – woman who would not step away, who would not stop, who took blow after devastating blow of pain and disappointment even to the devastation of holding her son’s shattered body in her arms at the foot of his cross. Woman unbroken and undeterred! Woman who stood up from the foot of His cross and went on.
Hail Mary…
In God’s Unending Love,
Gwen
