Life is a Vocation: Part I

The above video is from The Vatican YouTube channel. This was the first order of business for Pope Francis.

On Sunday, March 17, 2013 this blog, “The Rosary Board” will have completed its first year. Though this is a small testimony of my own faith and walk with the Lord, it has been worth the time and effort.

Either The Times are a Change’n . . . or We Are.

This has been a Lent like none other. With Pope Benedict XVI stepping down and the election of Pope Francis it is an exciting time to be Catholic. Pope Francis has already shown that evangelization begins at the feet of Our Lady. She is the one who brought us Jesus. She gave Jesus His humanity. The Mary's Creator humbles himself to be born of her. Perhaps we forget this young woman from Galilee whom God the Father chose to be the mother of our Savior.

I would like to quote the Gospel Canticle from the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel (1:46-55) and which is part of our evening (Vespers) prayer.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down them mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. (The Liturgy of the Hours, According to the Roman Rite, Vol. II, . Catholic Book Publishing Corp. New York, 1976, 1066)

In this canticle, Mary is saying that her soul proclaims or magnifies the Lord. She says that her spirit rejoices in God her Savior. Why? Because God has looked on his lowly handmaid with high favor. The mother of our Lord says that from that very day all generations will call her blessed.

• Mary’s soul proclaims or magnifies the Lord.
• Mary’s spirit rejoices in God her Savior
• She does not elevate herself, but declares that she is the lowly handmaid of the Lord.
• Mary then proclaims the great works God has done in the following verses. These are the great works of the Lord that we also proclaim along with the Psalms in the Liturgy of the Hours.

Now let us look at the “Our Father” prayer.

“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed (holy) be Thy Name. . . ” Compare this to Mary’s prayer of praise; “. . . the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is His name.”

And finally,

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. 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.

The first two sentences are from the same chapter as our Gospel Canticle. The Hail Mary proclaims the greatness of the Lord and she rejoices in God her Savior. It tells very plainly why all generations would call Mary blessed. Mary cooperates with the Divine plan. It is not only the fruit of her womb that is blessed, but Mary is blessed.

Perhaps you have heard that the rosary is “one prayer to the God the Father and ten prayers for Mary?” But is that what the rosary is all about? Obviously not!

From this perspective the Hail Mary

• Proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
• Proclaims the Divinity and the humanity of Jesus.
• Proclaims the great works of God.
• Proclaims God’s mercy . . . His strength . . . feeding of the hungry . . . and the fulfillment of the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel).

Mary will always point to her Son. She will always lead you to her Son, Jesus. The rosary does proclaim the Gospel at its very core. Do not neglect this very simple devotion. No spontaneous prayer can possibly come near the words of Our Lady proclaiming the greatness of the Lord! This was her vocation.

Ave Maria!

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Jesus and Mary, Protect and Save the unborn.