Mary, upon hearing the angel Gabriel's announcement about her pregnancy with Jesus, responds with, "I am the Lord's servant; let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38).

Reflection for the Day

The Marriage of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Blessed Virgin lived a life of renunciation and prayer in the temple until she reached adolescence. She treated those who lived in the Jewish temple with love and respect. At that time, it was not desirable for young people to live in the temple, so the religious authorities decided to marry Mary when she attained maturity.

Finding a suitable groom for Mary, who was rich in external beauty as well as spiritual wealth, was a difficult task for them. According to Jewish law, marriage was encouraged between members of her own tribe. This was probably done to preserve the customs of the tribe.

Since Mary was a descendant of the tribe of David, she may have announced her intention to marry only young men from that tribe. But it must have been difficult for the church authorities to find a suitable bridegroom for the mother of the coming Savior. Therefore, inspired by God, they decided to choose someone miraculously.

According to Jewish tradition, it is considered a disgrace for a woman to remain unmarried. Therefore, it is not wrong to assume that the Holy Virgin was also married according to Jewish custom. Moreover, even though the Holy Virgin became the mother of the Son of God by the work of the Holy Spirit, marriage was also necessary to protect her honor. For this reason, the marriage between the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph took place.

After the marriage, Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary lived an exemplary family life according to Jewish customs, excluding the consummation of marriage. The Holy Family of Nazareth is a symbol of all Christian families. In Christian marriage, two people walk together toward holiness. We must follow the example of the Virgin Mary and Joseph to make our families more Christ like.

Incident to reflect for the Day

Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is very helpful in achieving family peace. Fr. Patrick Waiter is a famous Rosary missionary. In 1965, he went to the Philippines to spread the Rosary, when a big Rosary rally was organized. It was led by the governor of a province in the Philippines. The governor's eldest son had disgraced the governor through alcoholism and immoral life and had left home.

Therefore, at the end of the Rosary, the governor prayed to Mother Mary to allow his son to join him in reciting the Rosary. While the Governor and his family members were chanting the rosary, his eldest son surprisingly joined them in the rosary. The Governor himself announced this publicly after the rosary rally.

Prayer for the Day

The Blessed Virgin Mary, who was married to Joseph, made us understand the greatness of family life and its holiness. Grant us the blessing that our Christian families may become symbols of the Holy Family of Nazareth. May today's couples sanctify their married lives, realizing that married life is a call to holiness. May there be peace and service in families. May we receive the blessings necessary to make our earthly life a foretaste of the heavenly life. We pray that you will reign as Queen in Christian families. Amen.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate,despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Oh Holy Mary, conceived without original sin! O refuge of sinners! Here we come to your refuge. Have mercy on us and pray for us to your Son.
Our Father..Hail Mary..Glory be
Repeat Three times

Litany of Mother Mary

Hail Holy Queen
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our Life, our Sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate, Thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us, the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Let us pray. O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Petitions to the Holy Mother of God

• Refuge of sinners! Pray for the Holy Church.
Hail Mary..
• Refuge of sinners! Pray for the conversion of the Gentiles and others.
Hail Mary..
• Refuge of sinners! Pray for the political authorities to uphold truth and justice.
Hail Mary..
• Refuge of sinners! Pray for the authorities of the Holy Church, such as the Pope and others.
Hail Mary..
• Refuge of sinners! Pray for the souls in purgatory, who are your beloved children.
Hail Mary..

Aspiration Prayer for the Day

Oh God, mirror of knowledge, make us more knowledgeable in divine matters.