Mary the Mother of God – Full of Grace

We can imagine the scene when the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and delivered the message from God asking her to become the mother of Christ. We can appreciate the thoughts that whirled through her mind, as this young girl of 13 did not know man. Mary did not need to ponder this question long for there was only one answer - to do the Will of her Heavenly Father. Our Blessed Lady with a heart full of faith, trust, and love gave her fiat, and through the power of the Holy Spirit became the virginal mother of Jesus, the Son of God. In that moment of the Annunciation, Mary, who was full of grace, knew her life would be changed forever, yet she was filled with peace. We hope and pray that whenever Our Lord asks anything of us, however challenging or “humanly impossible” it may seem, that we will have the trust and fortitude, the spiritual strength, to respond as Our Lady did with a fiat, “be it done unto me according to thy word.” St. Josemaria, the Founder of Opus Dei said, “Before, by yourself, you couldn’t. Now, you’ve turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!” (The Way, point 513.) The praying of the Angelus at noontime will help us remain close to our Heavenly Mother throughout our day.

 

THE ANGELUS

 

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;

R. and she conceived by the Holy Spirit

Hail Mary, full of grace…

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R. Be it done unto me according to your word.

Hail Mary…

V. And the Word was made flesh,

R. and dwelt among us.

Hail Mary…

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Pour forth we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen

 

Recommended reading:  

The Way, Chapter: Our Lady, St. Josemaria Escriva

The Way, Furrow and Forge  - various points, St. Josemaria Escriva

In Conversation with God, Book 7 – Immaculate Conception Novena

All available from Scepter Publishers: www.scepterpublishers.org