Reflective Moments with Angela

REFLECTIVEMOMENTSWITHANGELA

MAY2012SisterMarieWilliamBlyth

BEHOLDYOURMOTHER

Allofusareaccustomedtohonoring ourmothers,livinganddeceased,onMothers’DayduringMay.Itisfittingtocelebrateallmotherswhohavegivensomuchofthemselvesthroughtheyears.Wecantreasurethememoriesoftheirloveandcarewhichnurturedandshapedusaswegrew.Thosewhostillhavetheirmotherslivingareawarethatthatnurturingisstillgoingon,avitalprocessofmotherhood.

Wheredoesallthiscomefrom?WithouthesitationIwouldsayit’sfromthespecialgiftJesusgavetousasHehungontheCross --Hisownmother,Mary,toguideusthroughlife’sjourneying.“BeholdyourMother,”HesaidtoSaint Johnandtous.Heknewshewouldbetheverypersonwhocouldandwouldassistuswheneverneeded.TheChurchsetsasidethemonthofMaytohonorher.

Mary,ourmother,livedinawholedifferentculture,yetexperiencedthesamethingswedoinalesshecticsociety.HerworldwascompletelychangedwhenshereceivedGod’srequesttobecomemotheroftheSavior.WhatHewasaskingwasnotintunewiththecustomsormoresofthepeople.Yetshesaid:“Yes,letitbedoneaccordingtoYourword.”That “yes,” thattotalfaithcarriedherthroughallthejoys,uncertainties,pains,sorrows,separationsandresurrectionmoments.Sheknowswhatit’slikewhenweexperiencetheupsanddownsoflife.

Herexamplecanshapeourresponsestoallwearecalledtodoorsacrifice.Wecanimitateherprayerful,trustingway.WecanalsorememberthatsheaskedJesustohelpatawedding.WhenHeseemedtorefuse,hearhersay:“DowhateverHetellsyou.”Shesaysthosesamewordstous.SinceJesusgaveherasamotheritstandstoreasonthatHeexpectsustoturntoherinprayerandaskforhelp.

AsIwasgrowingupIwastaughtto“gotoJesusthroughMary.”ATrappistmonk,Father M.Raymond,saysitthisway: “RememberOMary,thatyoucan’tsayyoucan’t,becauseyouareGod’sMother,andyouwon’tsayyouwon’tbecauseyouaremymother.Soyouwill,won’tyou?”

WITHANGELA

InviteAngelaintoyourprayertime.TalkwithheraboutMary’sroleinherlife.FeelherloveforMaryflowtoyou.LetAngela’smotherlyspiritenvelopyousothatasyouprayandwork,bothMotherMaryandMotherAngelawilltakeyourneedstoJesus.

PRAYER

ReflectonFather Raymond’sshortprayeroruse The Memorare togotoJesusthroughMary…. “Remember,OmostgraciousVirginMary,thatneverwasitknownthatanyonewhofledtothyprotection,imploredthyhelp,orsoughtthyintercessionwasleftunaided.Inspiredbythisconfidence,Iflyuntothee,Ovirginofvirgins,mymother.TotheedoIcome,beforetheeIstand,sinfulandsorrowful.OmotheroftheWordIncarnate,despisenotmypetitionsbutinthymercy,hearandanswerme.Amen.”