Jesus gave you Mary as your mother, Mary: Day 249

Last updated on: March 26, 2016 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Jesus gave you Mary as your mother, Mary: Day 249 2016-03-17T11:14:08-05:00 Pete Socks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jesus gave you Mary as your mother

As he was dying on the cross, Jesus gave Mary to John as his mother, and in doing so, he gave her to us all. St. Ignatius Loyola urges us to ponder carefully the circumstances surrounding this gift so that we can more fully appreciate it.

Mary has been given you as a mother. Consider, then, in your heart all

the circumstances of this gift. First, she was given to you by Jesus Christ, God and Master of all creatures, from whom comes all power, paternal and maternal; by Jesus Christ the God-Savior, who had already sacrificed for you the body and lavished the blood he derived from Mary. Having nothing more to give you but her, he bestows her on you as a complement of all his gifts.

Second, she is given to you in the clearest terms, the strongest, the most precise, to enable you to realize what they mean: “Behold your mother.” Jesus said, in showing the bread, “This is my body,” and the bread became his Body. Pointing to his mother, he says, “Behold your mother”; and Mary immediately became our mother.

Third, she was given to you under the most serious and solemn circum- stances. Jesus, while dying, makes his final arrangements and indicates his last will. Alone of all the disciples, the beloved John is present to receive in the name of all Christians the last gift that their divine Master makes to them.

Fourth, she is given to you to be “your mother.” Feel these words at the bottom of your heart. Recall to yourself that man does not live by bread alone; that his soul as well as his body has a life to receive and support. It is in this supernatural order that Mary is your mother; if you live to grace, it is through her. The principle of this spiritual life is in Jesus; but Mary’s is the bosom that bore you, the milk that nourished you, the maternal heart that always loves its children even when ungrateful.

—St. Ignatius Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

What does it mean to say that Mary is our mother “in this supernatural order”? How is it that Mary’s bosom bore us, her milk nourished us, and her maternal heart always loves us?

CLOSING PRAYER

From a prayer of St. Anselm: What dignity, O Virgin, could be more highly prized than to be the mother of those of whom Christ deigned to be Father and Brother?

________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Paul Thigpen and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.

A Year with Mary

Paul Thigpen

Saint Benedict Press

Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Previous Post

March 25, 2016

“Behold your mother!”, Mary: Day 248

Next Post

March 27, 2016 CBB Interview with Stephen Binz

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Year with Mary A Year with the Angels A Year with the Church Fathers Book News Children's Review Featured CD Giveaway Guest Post Interview Linked Review Media review Movie Review New Releases Off the Shelf Review speakers Teen Review The Clergy Speaks The Laity Speaks The Open Book Podcast Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz