A reading from the Golden Legend on Joachim and Anna

 

On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception I thought it fitting to remember a story of Joachim and Anna, Mary’s parents—it’s an Annunciation story. A reading from the Golden Legend on Joachim and Anna Saint Jerome relates that Joachim, who was of Galilee and of the town of Nazareth, took for his wife Anna of Bethlehem. Both were just, and walked without reproach in all the commandments of the Lord. They divided all their substance in three parts, allotting one part to the Temple and its ministers, and another to the poor and the pilgrims, reserving the third part to themselves and the uses of their household. Thus they lived for twenty years, and had no issue of their wedlock; and they made a vow to the lord that if He granted them offspring, they would dedicate them to the service of God. For this they went to Jerusalem to celebrate the three principal feasts of each year. And once, when Joachim and his kinsmen went up to Jerusalem at the Feast of the Dedication, he approached the altar with them, in order to offer his sacrifice. A priest saw him, and angrily drove him away, upbraiding him for daring to draw near the altar of God, and calling it unseemly that that a childless man, who gave no increase to the people of God, should stand among men who bore sons. At this Joachim was covered with confusion, and was ashamed to return to his home, lest he have to bear the contempt of his kindred, who had heard all. But one day when he was alone, an angel appeared to him, surrounded by dazzling light. He was frightened at the vision, but the angel bade him be without fear, saying: "I, the Lord's angel, am sent to announce to you that your prayers are granted. I have seen your shame, and heard the reproach of barrenness wrongfully cast upon you. For God indeed punishes not nature, but sin; and therefore, when He closes a womb, it is only that He may later open it more wondrously. Did not Sara, the first mother of your race, bear the shame of barrenness until her ninetieth year, and yet bear Isaac, to whom was promised the blessing of all nations? Did not Rachel also long remain barren, and yet beget Joseph, who was the ruler of all of Egypt? Who was stronger than Samson or holier than Samuel? Yet both of these were the sons of barren mothers!  Thus Anna thy wife will bear a daughter, and you shall call her name Mary. In accordance with your vow, she shall be consecrated to the Lord from her infancy, and shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from her mother's womb. And as she will be born of a barren mother, so will she herself, in wondrous wise, beget the Son of the Most High. Whose name will be called Jesus, and through Whom salvation will come to all nations! And this will be a sign to you: when thou shall come to the Gold Gate of Jerusalem, Anna your wife will meet you there, who now grieves at your absence and will rejoice to see you!" And with these words the angel left him. Meanwhile Anna wept bitterly, not knowing where her husband had gone. Then the same angel appeared to her, and revealed to her the same things which he had announced to Joachim, adding that as a sign she was to go to the Golden Gate of Jerusalem, to meet her husband at his return. Thus it was, following the angel's command, they came face to face at the Golden Gate and shared their joy over the vision which they had both seen, and over the certainty that they were to have offspring. Then they adored God and set out for their home, awaiting the Lord's promise in gladness of heart.  Sr. Deborah Harmeling, OSB

A New Year to Go to Jesus through Mary

       I was happy to discover that my blog was due the day after New Year’s Day because it sounded like an easy and quick blog to write. Many associations came to my mind—party, countdown, dropping of the ball, big dinner followed by  a party, midnight, New Year’s eve, ring in the New Year, tradition, and of course resolutions, and lastly an important Holy Day.  I shocked and embarrassed myself that the most meaningful and important association came last. This made all the previous associations fade from my thoughts.

       January 1 is the feast of the Motherhood of Mary, our Holy Mother. Just typing these words astounded me. Mary, Child of the Father, Mother of Jesus, Mother of the Church, whose members are the body of Christ, Mary, mother of us all. How Awesome!

       Mary is also the Queen of heaven, Queen of all the saints, both living and deceased. Now I am overcome with yet another emotion—that I, so sinful, so poor, so ordinary, am a descendant of such royalty including the Holy Spirit who lives and breathes in me and all creation!

       How appropriate that Mary, queen of all saints and Mother of our Savior was chosen by the Church to be celebrated on January 1, the first day of each year, reminding us to honor her above all saints in heaven.

       When we are sad we can find consolation remembering Our Lady of Sorrows who will send comfort to us just as her Son comforted her by giving her John as her son. We likewise can find comfort in sorrow by praying to Mary by a personal prayer to her or by praying some of the beautiful prayers that have been composed in her honor—the Memorare, Hail Holy Queen, the Rosary, Hail Mary or one of your own favorite.

       By reflecting on this feast of Mary, I feel called to pray more often to her throughout the day and to thank God for sharing His Mother with all God’s children.  

                                Sr. Victoria Eisenman, OSB

Who Is My Mother?

            Three of our four evangelists tell of Jesus asking this question. Was it a rhetorical question?  Or rather, was it a “teachable moment ”? 

No, they knew His mother!

And she was the most beautiful mother ever. He had known her all along, much better than they, or anyone else. Instead, Jesus chose to embrace all in His family who do as she did: she said “Yes” to becoming His mother, even though the pregnancy could have ended in a stoning death. Can we say Yes to Jesus, when the consequences seem impossible, when to bring Jesus to birth in the lives of those we meet is unlikely or very hard?

Can we follow the advice she gave to the servants at the wedding feast at Cana, to “do whatever He tells you?” If we do, perhaps a miracle will occur!

She followed His trail, as He went about teaching; her very own son, working miracles, feeding the hungry, answering the questions put to him by enemies trying to trick Him so they could bring about His death. How far are we willing to go and follow Him?

And, faithful to the end, she stood at the cross, suffering as only a mother can who watches her child die. Can we have compassion for the countless brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering?

This is the mother of Jesus. We become His mother, His family of brothers and sisters if we can do as she did in these instances and so many others.

So, on this Mothers’ Day let us remember not only our own mothers, but also the one Jesus gave us, as He did to John standing at the foot of the cross with Mary His mother.

Jesus answered, “Who is my mother?... Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants him to do is my brother, my sister, and my mother.” Matthew 12: 46-50. Mark 3:31-35, Luke 8:19-21

Sr. Mary Carol

A Brief Reflection for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

          From my early youth, I loved Mary, frequently prayed the rosary, and thought of her as my second mother. Her existence to me was as real as my own dear mom. I loved Jesus, but since he was God, it was Mary, I felt, who could lead me to him. As I grew older, the belief that she was conceived without sin meant little to me. 

What amazed me was that she always said yes to God.  I thought how fortunate she was, and that it must have been easier for her than everybody else.

          Now that I am much older, I realize that only through the grace of God could Mary be so open to others’ needs, to the performance of good works, to prayer, and so united with her son in spirit, that her life was totally given.  I remember that she was as human as you and I. Not so easy after all.  She had her day-to- day struggles, times of misunderstandings and fear, great inconveniences, and  deep, wrenching loss. Only with God’s grace, was she able to come through it all.  In other words, she was like us in all ways, except sin. Because she loved more, she trusted more. At Cana, her secret was revealed: “Do as he tells you”, she says, directing us to everlasting life and the Source of all joy!

        Sr. Sharon Portwood, OSB

Mary, Mother of God

Today’s liturgy is the celebration

of the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God. This is my favorite feast of the whole Advent-Christmas season. Throughout the Advent season I sing our opening hymn for Morning and Evening Prayer looking at a copy of Michelangelo’s, the Madonna of Bruges. My focus is always drawn to Jesus’ hands and Mary’s face. Mary is no longer a young maid of Nazareth. She knows she is the Mother of God and that Jesus is her child. Their hands are joined—his right in her left; his left tight against her thigh. Both faces anticipate the Pieta.

                                                   Sr. Mary Catherine Wenstrup, OSB

   

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

     August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.  It is a feast of mystery.  There are many mysteries in our Faith.  I guess that's the meaning of faith.  I am reminded of the famous saying: "Life is a mystery to be lived and not a problem to be solved".

      We know from Scripture how Mary lived. We know how she humbly listened to God. How she echoed Jesus' words, "Not my will but yours be done".  Mary is truly an example of faith for us and a model of how to live and be true disciples of Jesus.  She has many lessons for us. On August 15 and every day, we pray "Mary, lead us to eternal life with Jesus".