Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

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The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, is a simple summary of God’s action in her life and an invitation to us to be open to God’s blessings in our own. Let us learn more about her, and ourselves, from the Scriptures for this day and the life of Saint Francis of Assisi.

In the first reading, the Lord, gives his chosen leader, Moses, a class in ‘how to’ instruct the sons of Aaron, the priestly class, to bless their own. They are to let the Lord ‘bless and keep,’ ‘shine upon’ and ‘be gracious to’ each person. They are to be humble before God’s actions. The Lord tells them to ‘invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Saint Francis of Assisi, who recognized God’s active grace, within and all around all creation, adopted this same Scriptural blessing in his time and Franciscans still use it today!

We then find the example of God’s actions in Mary’s life in the second reading: ‘when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law…’ and in the Gospel: ‘he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel (to Mary) before he was conceived in the womb.’ God’s relationship with Mary was one of ‘blessing,’ as only God could respond to the Israelite people’s hope and prayer for a Savior. Luke’s Gospel also recounts that Mary ‘kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.’ She recognizes that God’s loving goodness becomes real in her Son, in all of their human experiences: from Bethlehem to Calvary.

On this day, let us use parts of Saint Francis of Assisi’s prayer to Mary as we celebrate her way of being God’s instrument:

“Hail, O Lady, Holy Queen, Mary holy Mother of God,
Who are the Virgin made Church,
chosen by the most Holy Father in heaven
whom he consecrated with His most holy beloved Son
and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,
in whom there was and is all fullness of grace and every good.
Hail His Palace!
Hail His Tabernacle!
Hail His Dwelling!
Hail His Robe!
Hail His Servant!
Hail His Mother!”

A Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, vv. 4-5. (FAED, Volume I, p. 163)

Sister Carol Woods, SFMA (Franciscan Missionary Sister of Assisi)

Co-Executive Director of the Franciscan Federation

of the Sisters and Brothers of the Third Order Regular of the United States