Friday, December 22nd
Mary said, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and My spirit exults in God My Saviour…………….Holy is His Name"
Luke 1:46-49

The completeness in creation and offering in the blessed Mother of the Incarnate Word Himself proclaims the greatness of the Lord: her thanksgiving and praise reveal her human response And in that coming together the Father's loving purpose for all humankind is expressed and potentially fulfilled. In joy she brought forth, in the fulness of time, the Father's ultimate expression of Absolute Love in loving care and devotion she reared and tended Him and held Him in love to the end.

Yet though joy was her condition in acceptance and total self-giving, suffering was the experience from beginning to end on the earthly path. Brought forth into the world through the pains of childbirth the Incarnate Word suffered the deprivations of selfishness and neglect from those who should have welcomed Him and mortal danger from one who feared Him. And His beloved Mother suffered in all these things. The joyful knowledge at the centre of her soul, intertwined with the faith and trust of her holy disposition, did not free the Blessed Mother from the pain of dreadful anticipation of that which lay before the Joy of her heart. This she used to arm herself to meet the day with fortitude and faithful commitment. So was she prepared to receive with joy the risen, glorified Presence of her God and Saviour, and exult in the holiness of his Name.