The liturgical year is a celebration of Christ — that is, of Jesus who has been exalted through His death and resurrection as Lord and Christ, as the Head of His Body, the Church, from which He cannot be separated. To celebrate Christ is to celebrate both Head and members. The liturgical year, therefore, includes Mary . . .
The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy is simple and clear:
In celebrating the annual cycle of Christ's mysteries, the Church honors with special love the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, who is joined by an inseparable bond to the saving work of her son. . . . (nos 103 and 104)
September 15th the Sacred Liturgy honors Mary as Woman Of The New Covenant. This feast is a celebration of her fiat and the role it plays in our salvation history.
Mary, Woman Of The New Covenant
When Mary agreed to be the mother of Jesus, she got much more than she bargained for. Her "yes" to God's invitation to be the mother of the Messiah forever changed the course of her life
. . . . she constantly reaffirmed that "yes" as she experienced God's Will for her son, God's Will for her husband and God's Will for her. In good times, bad times and all the times in between, she fully embraced the mysterious designs of God imbedded in whatever circumstances in which she found herself. We, too, are called to give birth to Jesus. While not a physical birthing, this call is no less challenging or demanding than it was for Mary. As we see in the life of Mary, giving birth to Jesus is not a one time event; it is a life-long process. Saying "yes" to giving birth to Jesus is about being faithful to God's Will for us and others, one day, one hour, one moment at a time. Giving birth to Jesus is about fully and deeply embracing the responsibilities, events and circumstances of the state and stage of life in which we find ourselves. It's about rolling with the punches while remaining steadfast in the conviction that God loves and cares for us. Mary is a powerful reminder that giving birth to Jesus brings more than its share of inconveniences, headaches and heartaches. At the same time, Mary is likewise a powerful reminder of how one person's fidelity to the Will of God can change the world.
Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS,Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.
US Mission Center, 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109, 877-272-1870 Vocation Office, 1400 South Sheridan Rd., Wichita, KS 67213 - Telephone: 877-ADORERS (877-236-7377)(Copyright 2005 Adorers of the Blood of Christ)
