THE MAGNIFICAT OF MARY, OUR MOTHER
By
Ronald D. Curley
"Brother Barnabas"
Of St. Anthony's Retreat
in Florence, Montana
Mail:
P.O. Box 531
Stevensville, Montana 59870
(ABSTRACT: How lovely is our Lady as she identifies with the Lord's redemptive purposes in the fruit of her womb, Jesus, the Christ. We are not alone, as we hear her speak with the words that must and ought to flow from our very beings. How we ought to reflect in our lives in Jesus the glory of Mary, our Mother and the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Mary, the servant to our Lord, is not God, nor she ever claim to be this. Yet, she shows us in her MAGNIFICAT the very prayer that should come from our hearts. Let us hear our Lady teach us in this prayer the essence of our key to holiness that comes from knowing God in Spirit and in Truth.)
O Maria, Immaculata, Ark of the Covenant, help me through your intercessory role with your Spouse, the Blessed Holy Spirit, to reflect upon these words you spoke that are so timely for the Church today. Help us to live these and become in Jesus, the Blessed fruit of you womb, all that we were meant to be and become in Christ! Amen.
What shall we say when we speak of Mary, "MAGNIFICAT." Let us go to the Gospel of St. Luke and hear the prayer that you uttered from your very lips, Maria, into the ears of the Holy Evangelist. (Luke 1:46-55) --
And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
The greatness of the Lord, Yahweh, is so understated by language, Mother of the Church. How we need to better experience within our Faith the greatness of God. We are like children in our understanding of greatness. Greatness to us is like a great building, a great seacoast, a great something that we may try to understand. Yet, the greatness you speak of are the greatness of God in all things. God's greatness in the little, the small, the insignificant, and, the greatness in the heavens, the stars, galaxies, the cosmos, expanding ever so swiftly still. This is a greatness that we fail to comprehend, yet, the obedience of Faith comprehends the greatness of our Lord your spirit rejoices. It is the God of your father Abraham, the father of the faithful. This greatness of God is so salvific, the Savior comes to all the Church, to all who call upon the Name of the Lord -- the Fruit of your womb, Jesus, Yahweh is Salvation. Your Savior, Jesus, the Fruit of your womb, Holy Mary, Mother of God.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
I have been called to call you "blessed." How sweet the face the Holy Mother of Deity and Man - Immanuel. How your Son emptied himself and descended to make his place with mankind, the last Adam. How the valley of tears cried for the Savior, and, lo, in the fulness of time, God the Holy trinity sent in Jesus the One, the Holy Son, the Blessed Fruit of your womb, Immaculata. We cannot express this fully in the language of men. All words are dumb before the Truth of the Incarnation of the Logos of God. All are speechless, when we consider the Holy One that dwelled within your womb. How can It be that God should do this for me through the lowly handmaid of Yahweh? In lowliness you said, "yes," and God became Man. Now, I too, a son born lately to love my Mother too, I call you Blessed amongst women, the Woman that was the promised one who would bring forth the Seed who would destroy the enemy of our souls. Blessed are you, Maria, amongst women.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Truly, Maria, Holy is his Name -- Love, Mercy, Yahweh-Salvation. Oh, Exodus of greater stature, the deliverance of deliverances. Oh, Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Oh, Sacred Heart of Jesus -- Have mercy upon us sinners. What a singular grace was that placed upon you, O Immaculata. What purity of soul, without a taint of original sin, are you, Oh, Immaculata. The singular blessedness of the grace bestowed upon your nativity. And, yet, do we not hear the calling of God for each of us to return to the purity that is you, O, Immaculata? Do we not sense that you are our destiny to be like in Jesus, the Holy One of God, our Savior? Was he not your Savior that saved you from the very taint of sin? Was he not altogether Lovely to meet you and make you that Holy Ark of the Testament, wherein would dwell the Perfection of the Torah and Aaron's Rod the budded for Life from death? Oh, death where is your sting? Oh, grave, where is your victory. Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ it is all through Jesus who came to us through you, O, our Sanctissima.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
Hear, Oh, heavens and earth's inhabitants, from age to ages, let there come forth the cry from the heart of hearts of each one of us. Let it ring forth from generation to generation, that God is alive and Maria, our Mother is Queen of heaven, for Mercy has made her Queen and we are called to become in Christ Jesus the "chaste virgin" for his honor and glory for all eternity, that Salvation may be upon us as the Emblem of his Mercy and all Glory and Honor and Power may redound to the Glory of God. Reverential trust is the fruit of all who come to be your seed, blessed Maria. Yes, Maria, let us truly and fully trust in your Son, the Fruit that brings Life, rather than the fruit that brings death.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
How weakly we feel in the forces that surround us. How our wilderness experiences with you, Oh, Maria, are so full of the waters that would drown us in sorrow. Oh, Maria, Lady and Mother of Sorrow, we love your care for us in the wilderness. We see the place prepared by God for you. Yes, Maria, here we are with you, blessed and loving Mother. Sweet Maria, sweetest Perfume of God, how willingly must we be obedient in Faith, as we face that dreadful one whose whole hateful heart does only desire our pain, our misery, or destruction. Yet, we are not afraid, our Lady, because you are with us, for we are the Body of Christ. We are the People of God. We are the Building built upon Peter. Jesus is our Cornerstone. Oh, Maria, we see you now as the Queen of Apostles and Patriarchs. How strong is the Arm of God, the Right Hand of God, Jesus, Dominus et Deus.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
Is this not so in the Revelation, chapter 12? The Kingdom of God is come. The Kingdom of Christ is come! Jesus reigns! How excellent this eschatological reality for the present time we live in the valley of tears. This is the blessed hope of Faith. This is the glory that is to come in JESUS -- our Joshua! Greater is Jesus than Moses! Oh, Maria, stay with us, dear Mother. Keep us in your tender arms, in the recesses of your garments of holiness.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
Are not the poor and the hungry your children? Are not the lost and dying the ones you love, as does your Son? Are not the wasted lives of those who are forgotten, the persecuted, the lame, the lepers, the beggars, the disenfranchised, the wronged -- are these not your sons and daughters in Jesus? Are we not all your children, who have come to the Fruit of your womb for Salvation, for Salvation is of Yahweh? Yes, dear Lady. The rich in their own eyes will be sent away empty, but, the poor in spirit will be filled.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
What a transcending thought, O Maria. What an excellent plan and purpose. What glory comes and joy unspeakable, when we hear that God is the God of the promise of our fathers. O, Maria, descendent of father Abraham, oh, lovely example of perfect faithfulness, the diaspora is helped, the sons of Israel and the sons of all the gentiles are blessed in Abraham our father. Abraham is my father too, because I with you am a child of Jesus, the blessed fruit of you womb.
Deus et Sanctissima.
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
In Christ -- Ron