Part 1 of the series: Women of the Bible I would like to meet.

Of course, first on my list of women from Sacred Scripture that I would like to list is:

Our Mother Mary.

I think, other than the Trinity, I would love to meet her.

I would like to sit down and have a glass of iced tea with her and some cookies.

I don't know if she likes coffee, but I don't, so I didn't include that in my list of questions for her.

I'd love to sit under and olive tree with her and feel the the warm breeze on our faces.

I would love to sit and pray with her.

Perhaps, even an angel might visit?

I have so many questions for her.

 

 

 

 

Here's what I would like to learn.

How did you feel when you were asked to be the Mother of Jesus?  

 

Were you afraid? 

 

Did St. Gabriel surprise you?

 

What did St. Gabriel look like?

 

How did you talk your parents into allowing you to go visit Elizabeth and Joachim?

 

How did you feel when you saw Elizabeth?

 

How did you feel when Elizabeth told you that her baby kicked when he recognized your Son?

 

 

 Were you even in more awe of God?

 

Did you help to deliver John?

Traveling must have been difficult for you, how did you do it?

 

When you got home, how did your parents react when they found out they were going to be grandparents?

 

Were they upset or did they welcome your new baby?

 

 Was your pregnancy with Jesus, an easy one?

Did you get morning sickness? 

 

What did Joseph say when you told him you were having a baby? 

 

Were you afraid that he might reject you and your baby?

 

When you became Joseph's wife, did you have a big wedding?

 

Did all the villagers attend your wedding?

 

What was your life like as a woman 2000 years ago?

 

You and Joseph were required to go to Bethlehem.  Were you afraid when you and Joseph had to leave?

You must have been in labor when you found a stable to give birth to the Son of God.  Was this humiliation for you?

Was Jesus a good baby?

Did he sleep the night early or did he keep you awake?

How did you feel when the shepherds came to visit?

How did you feel when the wise men came to visit?

When you returned home, did the ladies of the village coo and kiss Jesus?

Was Jesus a beautiful child? 

Did He have fun with the other children in the village? 

 

Did he play with his friends or did he work with Joseph?

 

Did you see angels around your Son? 

 

Did you talk with angels about your Son? 

 

How did the village react to your Son? 

 

Was Jesus tall? 

 

Was he popular in the village?

 

Did He go to dances and parties in the village?

 

Did he have a pet?

 

What was Jesus' favorite food that you made?

 

Did Jesus help you cook in the kitchen?

 

Did you pray as a family daily?

 

Did you absolutely adore Your Son?

 

Blessed Mother, thank you for answering my questions.

 

I hope to meet you in heaven and sit with you under a tree,

 

drink some special tea,

 

and  

 

listen to what you have to say.

 

Letter to Our Mother

Dearest Mother,

It's May, and it's your month.  We honor you as the Mother of God!  Thank you for listening to the angel's words and saying yes.  You are our advocate before Your Son, Jesus, our God and our brother.  For this, we thank you, and we praise God. 

St. Therese said that we, your children, are like flowers in a garden.  Each one is special and unique.  Each one of us has a purpose in life.  Each one of us was born with a mission that will glorify God.  How do you keep track of all your children dearest Mother?  It must have been easier with only one Son.

Dearest Mother, I often wonder about your life.  What was it like raising the King of Kings?  Did you and Joseph stand by His cradle and look at Him as He slept?  Did you wonder if He would fit in with the other children in your village?  Did you wonder how The Father would accomplish His gift of salvation through your Son?  Did you talk about this in your family as Jesus grew? 

Did Jesus help you in the kitchen when He was too young to work with Joseph?  Did you teach Him to cook and to clean?  When Joseph died, did you hold Jesus close and tell Him that all would be well? 

When Jesus grew into manhood, did you worry about Him?  You knew His mission of salvation would begin as Jesus left to find John and be baptized by Him.  You knew that He would do as you asked at the wedding in Cana even when He bantered with you.  We all know He couldn't resist your smile and love.  All you had to do was to tell the servants, "Do whatever He tells you." Jesus couldn't say no.  You pushed your little bird out of the nest and into His public life.  You had your mission, too. 

Dearest Mother, how your heart must have broken when you saw Jesus beaten, bruised and near death on His way to the cross.  How could you stand the pain? When Jesus gave you to John as his mother, he took care of you and gifted us with His Mother.  When Love died on the cross, your heart was pierced.  Your heart was shattered and broken.  You understood undying pain in the death of Love, but you accepted the sacrifice of the Lamb to the Father for the redemption of sin. 

Mother, how great was your joy, then, on Easter morning when you saw your Risen Son?  You, who gave birth to the Messiah, the great High Priest, saw your Son as God!  Mother, dear, how you must have rejoiced with the Apostles and disciples at the news of His resurrection.  How you must have rejoiced when His chosen ones saw Him for the first time.  The Promise of the Father was fulfilled.  Heaven was opened for mankind! 

Now, Mother of God, your mission continues.  Your job is to lead your children to your Son.  You work hard at this job.  You ask us to pray for peace, to pray for the conversion of sinners.  You ask us to pray the rosary daily.  You ask us to pray and fast. 

Our world is a difficult world in which to live.  You know that.  You try to teach us, but like naughty children, we forget.  Dearest Mother, pray for us.  We are your children.  Hold us close to your Immaculate  Heart.  Never stop trying. We will hear you.  Thank you, Mother.  Thank you.

We love you,
Your children

And The Word Was With God, And the Word Was God...

Walking the Camino - Five Ways to Grow Closer to Mary, the Mother of God

She walked her own Camino Del Rey.  She walked the Way of the Cross with her Son.  As He hung on that bitter piece of wood, dying, Jesus gave His Most Immaculate Mother to the rest of us.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”  Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home."  John 19: 26-27

With His dying breaths, Jesus made her our Mother, too.

Now, as we walk our Camino Del Rey, we can ask her to join us as we walk this Lenten camino growing closer to Son.  As we walk together, we learn of Jesus and we learn of Mary.

Ways to grow closer to Mary, the Mother of God.

1) Pray and meditate on the Magnificat, the prayer of praise that Mary recited with her cousin Elizabeth.

My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm,
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy
Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.
Luke 1: 46-55

2) Recite a Hail Mary and meditate upon this prayer.

Hail Mary,
Full of grace!  The Lord is with you!  Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

3) Pray the Rosary daily and meditate on each mystery.  If you do not have enough time to pray the Rosary, pray a single decade of the Rosary daly and meditate on that mystery.

Click HERE for directions on how to pray the Rosary.

4) Read Sacred Scripture from the Bible daily. Suggested Readings:
Luke 1: 26-38
Luke 1: 46-55
Luke 2: 1-20
John 2: 1-11
John 19: 25

Of course your reading of Sacred Scripture does not have to be limited to these verses, so feel free to read others.  There are many references fortelling the Mother of God in the Old Testament.

5) Think of Mary in her everyday life.  Imitate her example.  Perform works of charity.  Love those around you.  Hug your husband and children.   Love those who do not love you.   Visit the sick and dying.  Take food to someone who is ill.  Pray for Peace.  Pray.  Pray.  Pray.  Ask Our Mother to be with you and guide your steps as you walk your Camino del Rey.   She will.  She will.