Christ’s Mother

Today we are going to consider the tremendous influence the Blessed Virgin Mary can have on our Franciscan way of life. We can look at the Franciscan picture from several angles, such as our Franciscan spirituality; Christ our Head; Christ our Model; Christ and the Commandments and what they mean in our lives. But, the whole picture is simply not there until we see, too, the presence in our lives of the gentle and courageous lady who is Christ’s Mother.

   St. Francis de Sales said, “Nothing is as strong as gentleness, nothing as gentle as real strength.” Mary’s whole life was a perfect model of gentleness and real strength. St. Francis said of her, “Holy Virgin Mary, among all the people of the world there is none like you.” We, as followers of St. Francis can utter a fervent “Amen.”

    We, who all our lives have had a warm glow in our hearts for her, can thank God for the gift of her. Now, let us all try to become more fully aware of her part in Salvation’s History. Let us become aware of her as she walked firmly and unwaveringly by the side of Christ, in perfect step with Him, all the way from Bethlehem to Calvary. Pope Paul said, “She is inseparable from Christ and his redemptive work.    

    We can get some brief, but telling pictures of Mary from the Gospels. St. Luke takes us to Nazareth to an astonishing scene — we see a young girl suddenly set back on her heels by the appearance of the Angel Gabriel; we hear the angel ask her, a girl destined to a dedication of virginity, to accept the Conception in her body of the Son of God. We can imagine the great big question that popped into her mind and we can sense her awe and even fright. But then, quiet words, “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God,”[1] from the angel.

    We can see her quick reaction, her instant response, her humble acceptance — “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”[2]  We see someone who instantly and completely renounced herself, her life as she had known it and any plans she may have had for her future. She must have known there would be hardships ahead for her — heartaches — whisperings behind her back — sufferings — and even as she agreed, she must have felt, within her, some measure of dread at this awesome undertaking that was being asked of her. But Mary was strong and she was gentle and she unhesitatingly stepped forward into her new role, her future at the side of Christ, her Son.