Whenever we look to Mary...

Today, RSCJ communities and Sacred Heart schools across the world are celebrating the feast of Mater Admirabilis, whose image has has been a central part of our Society since she was painted by Pauline Perdreau in 1844. And today, our Province of Central Europe and the Islands begins a journey of prayer, in preparation for our first Province Assembly next month.

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These words, from Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), para 288, are very appropriate for today's feast, and also a very necessary reminder of the strength at the heart of tenderness, and the true power of love, at a time when our news - and indeed, our world - is filled with the abuse of power, and with violence and constant military destruction...

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"Whenever we look to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness. In her we see that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong who need not treat others poorly in order to feel important themselves. Contemplating Mary, we realize that she who praised God for “bringing down the mighty from their thrones” and “sending the rich away empty” (Lk 1:52-53) is also the one who brings a homely warmth to our pursuit of justice. She is also the one who carefully keeps “all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19).

Mary is able to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small. She constantly contemplates the mystery of God in our world, in human history and in our daily lives. She is the woman of prayer and work in Nazareth, and she is also Our Lady of Help, who sets out from her town “with haste” (Lk 1:39) to be of service to others. This interplay of justice and tenderness, of contemplation and concern for others, is what makes the ecclesial community look to Mary as a model of evangelisation..."

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On this feast, and of course every day, may Mary's prayers enable us to be filled with her spirit of contemplation and service, and the strength we all need, born of tenderness and love, in order to discover and be authentic, effective witnesses to the Love which dwells and acts at the heart of our world, and each one of us.

Happy feast everyone!

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Adapted from a reflection which first appeared in All this life and heaven too