MARY, OUR MOTHER

IN CALVARY - THE THIRD WORD

3. "Behold Thy Mother!"
If the first words were sorrowful for Mary, the second were sweet and consoling for us. Behold Thy Mother! So we have now a Mother; and what a Mother! A Mother for ever that no one will ever snatch away from us.

God has placed the mother in the world that she may everywhere be the most eloquent incarnation of His Providence and of His love. man needs a mother. The greatest misfortune that can befall us is to lose our Mother. Without her all is sad, all is empty. Nobody can fill her place. Nobody can substitute her.

Jesus embraced His cross with all its sufferings up to the separation from His Mother. But bequeathed Her to you that you may never be an orphan. And this Blessed Mother will never fail you. How true is that! After we have lost our mother, then especially do we feel the need the stronger, of her maternal care. How can we thank Jesus for all that He bequeathed to us from His cross? How generous! To the thief He gave a kingdom. To us, His Mother! What were the feelings of John on hearing this? Calvary was turned into paradise for him. How well did Jesus reward him for having been faithful in his love, and followed Him up to the cross. He climbed Calvary a disciple and came down the son of Mary and the brother of Jesus. How joyfully did he enter into possession of this rich inheritance. So rich it is, that God has no greater one in Heaven!

Apply all this to yourself. You can also say: "The Mother of God is my Mother." Since the word of God is quickening and efficacious, it achieves what it means. Mary is verily your Mother and loves you with a love equal to the love She bears for Jesus.

You also must be in truth a real child of Mary and so you must love Her as Jesus loved Her. You have an obligation to be similar to Jesus so as to be a worthy child of such a Mother, so as to be His brother. It is only natural that brothers should be very much alike. Compare yourself with Him and in all humility and shame ask pardon for the many times you have not loved your common Mother, for the many times you have disregarded Her with your behavior. Ask this Mother that although you sometimes forgot to be Her son, She might never forget to be your Mother, never abandon you.

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]