Happy New Year!

Today is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.  What a treat to start off the New Year in thanksgiving for the Mother of Salvation.  :) 

Our pastor delved into the mystery of Jesus being both fully God and fully human, taking His Divinity from His Father and His Humanity from His Mother.  Though something we are unable to fully comprehend, this article of faith is one of the backbones of our religion. 

Since today is Sunday, I also got to pray the Glorious Mysteries.  Some thoughts that popped into my mind while praying...

Resurrection - Though Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus' resurrected Body, I can't help but wonder if Jesus didn't appear to His Mother interiorly.  She understood the necessity of His Death, and probably had an inkling of His Triumph over death.  I wonder if she understood it to be in this particular manner, though.  Anyway, upon news of His Resurrection, confirming whatever interior visions she was given, she must have been absolutely elated.  Oh, but how her heart must have longed to hold Him!

Ascension - So bittersweet again for Our Lady!  No doubt she endured emotional torture as she watched her beloved Son again move beyond her physical realm.  Unable to hug Him, kiss Him or hear His Voice, she must've clung to the Eucharist in a way most infathomable.  No doubt she was spiritually linked to Him (as she was and always will be), but as any of us know, being apart from the one you love is painful... even if you're able to keep in touch via e-mail, Skype, or telephone.

Pentecost - What bliss!  Our Lady once more feels the presence of Her Spouse as He baptizes her with untold graces!  Again, the Blessed Mother is there from the very beginning.  She was the catalyst for the Savior's birth, and she was present for the birth of the Church.  Can you imagine how all the apostles must have flocked around her as chicks to a mother hen?  Our Lady held such love for all of them, and no doubt counseled them in countless ways.  Our Church was forged by her Queenly hand, just as it was forged by the hands of the apostles.

Assumption - I imagine this to be Our Lady's happiest moment... probably even to this day (yes, even more than Christ's Nativity).  I'd be willing to wager the only moment sweeter for her will be the Final Judgement, when all is completed and Her Son no longer must agonize over the sins of mankind.  I've gone on and on about the Assumption several times, but honestly, I never tire thinking about how inexpressibly joyful that reunion must have been for her.  Being corporeal, she'd've thrown herself into His Arms and no doubt He enveloped her with equal relish.  To have been an angel (or even Saint Joseph!) looking in at that moment.  All of Heaven must've been ablaze with their love!

Coronation - Our Mother - the Queen!  I wonder which angels got to help prepare Our Lady for this event.  I wonder if her own mother, St. Anne, were blessed to be there to brush her hair back, to place a veil upon her head, to adorn her perfect child with jewels.  I wonder, too, if St. Joseph were there to process beside her as she made her way forth to the Throne of the Trinity.  No doubt Jesus crowned her, probably just about besides Himself with joy.  Oh wow. 

I then imagined that Jesus granted her one favor as a gift for such a special occasion.  Immediately I saw the gates of Purgatory open and thousands of souls come rushing into Heaven.  The gift she requested was the freedom of souls - not for herself, but for Her Son who so loved them so dearly.  Though Divine Justice dictates they make restitution for sin, Divine Mercy does not want it.  A word from the Queen of Heaven is more than payment, and the joy of that blessed occasion must've reverberated throughout the earth.

Mind you, I'm not saying I saw these as true visions.  My mind wandered over these things as I prayed the decades.  I can't help but think Our Lady's graciousness extends infinitely towards all of us, especially those most in need of such kindness.

Mmmmm - I could dwell upon Our Lady forever with the dopiest look of love on my face, I bet.  :)  How blessed are we to have been gifted so great a blessing!

---