Day 257: All Generations Will Call Me Blessed

Luke 1:39-59

Why are people remembered? Most of the time it’s because they have done something incredible like creating an invention, discovering new things, or starting a nation. Many people are remembered for what they did. 

Mary is in her own category because she is not remembered only for what she did, but mostly for what God did for her. Not only did God save her from Original Sin, but He also wanted her to be the Mother of God, meaning He wanted her to give His Son her humanity. In Mary’s yes, she followed God’s plan and became to Mother of God, the Theotokos. At the end of her life, she did not die, rather she entered into dormition and was then assumed into Heaven by the power of God. 

But why does Mary say that all generations will call her blessed? It is because of all the great things that God has done for her and the role which God has given to her as the God-bearer and the role that Jesus gives Mary on the Cross as the mother of humanity.

“If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother.”

• Saint Maximilian Kolbe

In both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, we know that every feast and celebration of Mary is truly about her Son. She leads us to her Son and wants none of the glory for herself because she is our humble, little, Mother. It is not possible to love the Blessed Mother too much because no one can love her more than Jesus loves her. It is, however, possible to idolize the Blessed Mother, which is not what the Church does or teaches. It is very easy to come to that conclusion, however, but when it is fully understood, Mary is seen as an avenue of loving Christ. 

One can definitely try to love Christ on their own, but it is much easier and more fruitful with the help and intercession of the Blessed Virgin. Mary is like a mother with her arms out ready to catch a toddler trying to walk. Her arms are there for support, but her arms are not the goal of the child. One must also remember that without the Blessed Virgin, Jesus would have not entered the world and saved us from our sins. Mary is not our Savior but is crucial for our Salvation because of her role as Mother of God and Arc of the Covenant to God’s people.

Prayer: Lord, help us to love Your Mother and depend on her to guide our steps to You