My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness;
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age,
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things,
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his sons for ever.
(Luke 1: 46-55)
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness;
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age,
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things,
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his sons for ever.
(Luke 1: 46-55)
MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS
She who pondered God's Word in her heart
CCC 494 At the announcement that she would give birth to "the Son of the Most High" without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that "with God nothing will be impossible": "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word." Thus, giving her consent to God's word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus. Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God's grace.
CCC 494 At the announcement that she would give birth to "the Son of the Most High" without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that "with God nothing will be impossible": "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word." Thus, giving her consent to God's word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus. Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God's grace.
MARY IN OUR DAILY LIFE
Just as Mary gave birth to Jesus, she has an essential role in welcoming the Word made Flesh, the Divine Word and the Flesh into our lives, the life of the Christian and the life of the Church. The gospels tell us that the Blessed Virgin Mary stayed close to Our Lord. If it was important for Mary and Jesus, then how much more important it is for Christians to be close to Mary today, because Our Lady will always lead us to her Son. Each day we ask Our Lady's intercession and a pray that she presents them lovingly to her Son.
During the course of the Church's liturgical year we honour Our Lady's presence in the life of the Church in various ways:
Saturday's during Ordinary Time - when no other feast is celebrated we honour the ancient custom sanctifying Saturday in honour of the Virgin Mary who remained unshaken in faith even after the death of her Divine Son on the Friday. It is a lovely preparation or anticipation for what happened next, the Day of Resurrection, where Jesus rose from the realm of the dead, which we remember each Sunday of the year.
Marians Months - May and October every year are dedicated to venerating Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus.
Rorate Caeli - During the Season of Advent Mass is celebrated at the dawn of the day, beginning just as the light rises in the sky. The Mass is only lit by candles, representing Mary's role in bringing the Light of the World into the darkness of the world. The Antiphon for these masses: Rorate Caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum - Drop down dew, ye Heavens from above, and let the clouds rain down the just.
During the course of the year we celebrate:
January 1: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
February 2: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
February 11: Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
March 25: Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
May 13: Feast of Our Lady of Fatima May 31: Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary
June/July: Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
July 16: Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
July 26: Feast of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim (Parents of Mary)
August 2: Feast of Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula
August 5: Feast of Our Lady of the Snows
August 15: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Holy Day)
August 22: Memorial of the Queenship of Mary
September 8: Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 12: Feast of the Holy Name of Mary
September 15: Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
October 7: Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
November 21: Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 8*: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
During the course of the Church's liturgical year we honour Our Lady's presence in the life of the Church in various ways:
Saturday's during Ordinary Time - when no other feast is celebrated we honour the ancient custom sanctifying Saturday in honour of the Virgin Mary who remained unshaken in faith even after the death of her Divine Son on the Friday. It is a lovely preparation or anticipation for what happened next, the Day of Resurrection, where Jesus rose from the realm of the dead, which we remember each Sunday of the year.
Marians Months - May and October every year are dedicated to venerating Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus.
Rorate Caeli - During the Season of Advent Mass is celebrated at the dawn of the day, beginning just as the light rises in the sky. The Mass is only lit by candles, representing Mary's role in bringing the Light of the World into the darkness of the world. The Antiphon for these masses: Rorate Caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum - Drop down dew, ye Heavens from above, and let the clouds rain down the just.
During the course of the year we celebrate:
January 1: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
February 2: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
February 11: Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
March 25: Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
May 13: Feast of Our Lady of Fatima May 31: Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary
June/July: Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
July 16: Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
July 26: Feast of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim (Parents of Mary)
August 2: Feast of Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula
August 5: Feast of Our Lady of the Snows
August 15: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Holy Day)
August 22: Memorial of the Queenship of Mary
September 8: Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 12: Feast of the Holy Name of Mary
September 15: Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
October 7: Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
November 21: Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 8*: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
IMAGES OF MARY IN CHURCH
In our Church there are many examples of how Mary was involved so closely to the life of Jesus her Son. See below some examples:
Nativity Scene at Christmas, the Easter Garden Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the Holy Family Statue, the chapel dedicated to Our Lady and the Stations of the Cross around the church.
Nativity Scene at Christmas, the Easter Garden Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the Holy Family Statue, the chapel dedicated to Our Lady and the Stations of the Cross around the church.
