This is a feast of Mary
that has always meant a lot to me. In
1956 it was celebrated on July 2, the day I received the habit as a Benedictine
sister.Later on the feast date was
moved to May 31, as it is today. That has
become the time of year I usually take a driving trip to visit my Sister of
Mercy friend near Charlotte, NC, traveling through the beautiful mountains on
Route 40 south. It is always a
Visitation time for the two of us!
Recently I finished a book
by theologian Sr. Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ, Abounding in Kindness,
in which she shares lectures and articles that have appeared in other
places than the books she has written.
The last two selections were specifically about Mary: “Truly our Sister”
which later became a book, and “Hearts on Fire, A Revolutionary Song,” adapted from an address
at the centennial celebration of the Maryknoll Sisters, Maryknoll, NY,
2012. The later one was so moving to me,
especially as this Feast day was upon us.
Sr. Elizabeth points out
that at the beginning of Luke’s gospel, a woman sings out her joy that God’s
revolutionary manner of acting is to show mercy to the lowly, starting with
herself. The woman is Mary of
Nazareth. Her canticle is commonly
called the Magnificat, from the Latin
translation (Lk. 1:46-55).
Miriam of Nazareth who
proclaims these words is a young, first century Jewish woman from a farming
village in Roman-occupied Galilee. She
knows what it means to be poor, to be exploited by the Roman taxation policies,
to be on the low rung of the cultural ladder, probably uneducated. But she is convinced that nothing is
impossible with God, as shown in the Annunciation Story preceding this.
Filled with the Holy Spirit
and starting to swell with new life, Mary hastens through the hill country to
Judea to visit older cousin Elizabeth, herself six months into an unusual
pregnancy. The moment of their meeting
is the immediate setting for the Magnificat. Within the spacious
silence, where even the husband’s voice is silenced, two women’s voices
resound. “Filled with the Holy Spirit,” Elizabeth
bursts into praise of Mary’s faith, “Blessed is she who believed that the word
spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Affirmed by this blessing , Mary
launches into joyful praise of God.
These two mothers of redemption themselves embody the mercy of God which
they now prophetically proclaim, as they affirm one another. This scene portrays these pregnant women as
prophets.
Sr. Elizabeth reflects at
length on this Revolutionary
Song, summing
up, “ the unity in distinction of the two stanzas, one praising God with
personal love, and the other proclaiming God’s justice for those who are
pressed down, expresses an insight at the core of biblical spirituality: mystical
and political impulses, two loves that are one.”
Toward the end of her
address she shares a reflection of St. Ambrose of Milan in fifth century, who
was reflecting on a text from the prophet Isaisah, “How beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good
news, who announces salvation” (ISA
52:7) His imagination summoned up
an image of Mary, hurrying through the hill country to sing her Magnificat with Elizabeth’s
blessing. He linked Mary’s journey with the
church’s journey across the hills of centuries to announce the glad tidings of
salvation. Ambrose then exhorts. “Watch
Mary, my children, for the word uttered prophetically of the church applies
also to her: “How beautiful thy sandaled steps, O generous maid!’ Yes, generous and beautiful indeed are the
church’s steps as she goes to announce her gospel of joy: lovely the feet of Mary and the church.”
Inspired by the same Spirit,
let us continue to sing this Magnificat with Mary and the Church daily in our Even Prayer, individually
or with our communities:
“My soul proclaims greatness, O my God,
And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
For your regard had blessed me, poor, and a serving woman.
From this day all generations will call me blessed,
For you, who are mighty, have done great things for me;
and holy is your Name.
Your mercy is on those who fear you, from generation to
generation.
You have shown strength with your arm.
You have scattered the proud in their hearts’ conceit.
You have put down the mighty from their thrones,
and have lifted up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things,
and have sent the rich away empty.
You have helped your servant Israel,
remembering you mercy,
As you promised to Abraham and Sarah,
mercy to their children forever.“ (Lk 1:46-55)
Sr. Mary Tewes, OSB
