Yesterday we celebrated the Solemnity of the Annunciation — celebrating the unique glory the Blessed Mother enjoys by having said “yes” to God’s plan of salvation, which would cost her dearly.
Going with haste
You remember what she did right after that. Newly pregnant (with the Messiah — the Son of God!), she made a beeline to help her cousin Elizabeth. On Elizabeth’s greeting, Mary poured forth from her immaculate heart the ultimate song of gratitude, humility, and praise — the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).
This prayer-of-prayers of Mary is marvelous beyond words.
Oops
But, too often, I pray the Magnificat during Evening Prayer and finish it…only to realize that I wasn’t paying attention! Did something important pull my mind away? No, just the usual stuff—replaying conversations in my head or planning dinner.
But “God has looked on the poverty of his handmaid” and gave me a meditation on Mary’s Canticle. What a gift! And I want to share his gift with you. Let’s go on a walk together with Mary. :)
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My soul magnifies the Lord. My soul is not made to fully understand or ignore God. I am created to magnify God, who is love. That doesn’t mean I make him any larger. But if I proclaim him with my attitude and my choices, he appears larger than before to those around me. If the lens of my soul focuses on God, others can see his glory shining through me.
My spirit rejoices in God, my savior. Because I am aware of my sinfulness, I am aware of my nothingness outside of him. Everything outside of him is disaster and confusion. With him and him alone is a future with hope, which causes me to rejoice because he has saved me from hell, where my sins would have brought me without his loving intervention.
For he has looked with favor on his lowly handmaiden. There is nothing favorable in me to look at. He looks at me kindly because he is love. When he looks at me, he sees his Son in whose image I was made, and then he is able to shower me with more favor than I can even imagine.
Behold all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name. All generations call Mary blessed because the Lord has accomplished in her his preeminent miracle in a creature, saving her from sin by the merits of his death and resurrection ahead of time. And inviting her to be his own mother!
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. If we accept him as sovereign and strive to be his people, we are living in the truth. If we honor him, we are seeing him as he is—mercy itself—which opens our hearts to receive his mercy and shower it on everyone we meet.
He has shown the strength of his arm. He has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has scattered the proud in confusion because their hearts did not honor him. When I feel confused and overwhelmed, I know that I’ve partly refused the mercy that he desires to pour into me for my happiness.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has cast down those who were mighty by the standards of Satan, prince of this world. He has lifted up to himself those who boast of no earthly power, who seem as nothing to worldly eyes.
He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent empty away. Those who are hungry for his mercy, for heavenly food, for the Eucharistic Jesus—those who yearn for union with God, who yearn for heaven, who are hungry for what is eternal—will be filled with the Eternal God. But those who crave only temporal things that are passing away, they will be hungry again and again, never to be satisfied, always to be disappointed.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy. His Covenant is forever, regardless of our faithlessness. He has remembered our weakness and, like the “prodigal father,” takes us back the moment we look toward him.
The promise he made to our father Abraham and to his children forever. He will never forsake those who seek him, says Psalm 9A:11. He asks only that we seek him. Let us, with Mary, strive to empty ourselves so that God can fill us with his very self.
Love always,
Rose
The feature photo is by Wolfgang Moroder of a statue in the parish church of St. Ulrich in Gröden
Anne Gordon
Thank you Rose, for taking us on this walk with Mary. It was very personal and I felt closer to God as I read it.
Your roses are beautiful. And I love your haircut!
You are in my prayers, Rose
Karen Lee
Thank you, Rose. What a beautiful way to start my Sunday, walking with Mother Mary. May God bless you as you have blessed us with this thoughtful reflection of the Magnificat.
Maria Henry
Thank you, Rose. I too find myself wandering off during prayer and have to give myself a stern talking too. I’m hoping, the more I pray, in time I will be able to be more focused.
Thank you for your wise words.
Love your flowers, what a thoughtful hubby.
Have a blessed day.
Anthea
Happy Anniversary, Rose! Beautiful reflection of the Magnificat. Thank you!
Mary Schadler
Thank you for this reflection of Mary. I have always strived to be humble like Mary. She is my role model.
Debbie
Hi Rose,
Happy Anniversary!
Thank you for last week’s and today’s spiritual emails. I love praying the Magnificat prayer.
As always I look forward to receiving your emails.
The roses are beautiful just like you are!
Many blessings
Debbie
Yvonne Templet
Thank you Rose! I sure needed to hear this on this Sunday morning. My prayer life seems to be going great, then like a downhill ride on a roller coaster, I ask myself, what just happened? But thankfully, God is merciful and calls us back. To Jesus through Mother Mary, I can slowly, but confidently take that ride back up.
Barb
Thank you Rose!
You help us see Mary in a whole new way!
I also like the Memore prayer!
God Bless you for your Work..helping many!
Sharon
I love this! Thank you for sharing your wondering thoughts and reflections with us. They allowed me to go deeper in my own thoughts with this prayer and what it means to me.
Sharon
Peggy
I love this reflection! I’m going to archive it! ❤️🙏
Connie
A s always your reflections on the Blessed Mother is very important to add to my devotion to the Blessed Mother. Thank you !
Kathy
Thank you Rose for this reflection. I am always awestruck when I think of the faith Mary had, saying yes to being the Mother of Christ.
Happy Anniversary. Your roses are gorgeous. Have a blessed week Rose.
Cecilia Kavanah
Thank you for your beautiful meditations on Our Lady today they spoke to my heart. Lovely roses for your special efforts each week and Congratulations on your Anniversary.
Colleen
Beautiful meditation
Lucy Edwards
Such Lovely flowers, congratulations on your anniversary! Thank you for the the beautiful spiritual reading, truly will forever cherish. God Bless you for always inspiring me with all the readings. Have a Blessed week.