"As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!" (Luke 11:27).

Reflection for the Day

The Good News Received by the Holy Mother

The Incarnation of the Son of God required the cooperation of a human being. Just as Eve was the cause of destruction of the human race, so the Virgin Mary became the cause of the salvation of the human race. When the divine messenger approached Mary and greeted her, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you,” she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

The words of the Virgin, "Let it be to me according to your word," is considered the most free act in this world.

Mary thusvraised all men to the perfect freedom of the children of God. The Virgin consented with perfect freedom to the mystery of the Incarnation. By cooperating in the work of salvation, the work of salvation consists in uniting the human race with God through the Incarnation. When the Virgin Mary consented to give God human nature, the work of salvation through the Messiah became easier.

In eternity, God the Son, born of God the Father without a physical mother, is born in the fullness of time from the Virgin Mary without a physical father. God has entrusted the price of our salvation to you, the Virgin Mary. "Lord, if you consent, we will be saved," said Saint Bernard. Like the Virgin Mary, when we submit to the will of God, we become children of God. Only then is our personal freedom secure.

Incident to reflect for the Day

An extensive procession, carrying the statue of Mother Mary, was held in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. A large number of faithful participated in this procession. A non-Catholic was however not pleased with this faithful procession. He hid at the top of a building and started firing bullets at the statue of Mother Mary. The bullet however missed the statue and hit a woman's body, killing her instantly. People panicked, and the murderer quickly got into a car and tried to escape. Two or three policemen followed him and the murderer had to stop the car. The unsuspecting policemen approached him and said that a woman was lying lifeless and asked his to help identify the deceased woman. He went to the scene of the incident with the policemen. He was shocked to see that the dead woman was infact his wife. Overcome with remorse he immediately acknowledged his wrongdoing and repented. What began as a celebration of faith ended in a haunting reminder of how hatred can lead to unimaginable consequences.

Prayer

Oh Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, you accepted the divine mystery of the Incarnation with your humble response to the angel’s message: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” You saved humanity, which had fallen into the abyss of destruction due to the misuse of freedom, by using its freedom correctly. Grant us the grace to understand what true freedom of God's children is and to use our freedom correctly accordingly. May we not abuse our freedom and offend your Son. We promise that we will always use it in a way that is beneficial to the glory of God and our salvation. Lord, be our example. Teach us to use our freedom properly. May we understand that obedience is the greatest freedom. 

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

Mother of God, teach us to live according to the Word of God.