Leaving Cana, “Jesus went to Capharnaum with his Mother and brethren, and there remained a few days” (Jn 2:12). The words, a ‘few days’ are noteworthy. They refer to the last days Jesus spent under the same roof with his Mother and other relations. Afterwards, Jesus truly had neither Mother nor home any more on earth.
He was, henceforth, only ‘the Son of Man’. Sent from God, devoted to his divine mission, he went wherever God’s glory and the salvation of souls called him.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp359-61
Our Lady’s obedience of faith
Obedience is the virtue in which Our Lady excels every other creature. Even before the Annunciation, Mary would meditate on the Scriptures. She would discover their deepest meaning as no one had ever done before. Her understanding, free from the effects of sin, was enlightened by faith and the fullness of God’s grace.
Furthermore, with the help of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Our Lady was able to fathom the depths of the Messianic prophecies and longed for the Saviour’s coming. Her insistent prayer was an echo of the constant petition of all the Patriarchs and people of Israel throughout its history. Mary gave glory to God more fully than did all the rest of creation.
The Blessed Trinity favored Mary with a special fondness. She did not place any limitations on fulfilling God’s Will; but left herself totally open to whatever God might want from her. God had prepared the Blessed Virgin for her special mission, filling her with his grace.
The Annunciation brought with it the fulfilment of all that had been in our Lady’s heart. “But it is also the point of departure from which her whole ‘journey towards God’ begins, her whole pilgrimage of faith.” (John Paul II, Encyclical, “Redemptoris Mater”, 13)
The most immediate consequence of our Lady’s faith is her full obedience to God’s plan. This consideration can help us to examine ourselves, to see whether our faith leads us to imitate her obedience. Are we truly willing to fulfil God’s Will in everything, unconditionally? Desiring whatever God wills, whenever and in whatever way he wills it?
We can especially ask ourselves how we accept the ordinary difficulties of our day-- sickness, which we should love if it comes; suffering and sorrow; an unforeseen change in our plans; the failure of a project. In short, anything that interferes with our own desires.
Thus, do both success and failure, enjoyment as well as suffering, lead us to grow in holiness?
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 4:550-52
Mary’s increase in grace
As prophesied by Simeon at the Presentation in the Temple, Mary will share the Saviour’s trials. Had the Son of Man not been born, we could never have known the full malice of pride’s revolt against truth.
Mary’s grace had two contrasting effects: the pure joys of the Annunciation and the Nativity; the desire to be united to the sufferings of her Son for our salvation. Thus, presenting Him in the temple, she already offers Him for us. Joy and sorrow join in the heart of the Mother of God, already the Mother of all who will believe in her Son.
Ref: Cf R Garrigou-LaGrange, “The Mother of the Saviour and our Interior Life”, 1948, pp111-2
Selection -- “Turn constantly to the most Holy Virgin, the Mother of God and Mother of the human race; and she, with a Mother’s gentleness, will draw down the love of God on the souls you deal with, so that they may make up their minds to be witnesses for Jesus Christ, in their profession, in their ordinary work.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 911)
Our testimony as ordinary Christians
The Gospel of today’s Mass [Mk 6:14-29] tells us of the martyrdom of John the Baptist, who was faithful to the mission he had received from God to the point of giving his life. If he had kept silent, or if had remained on the fringe of events at the difficult moments, he would not have died with his throat cut in Herod’s dungeon.
But John was not like a ‘reed blowing in the wind’. Up to the very end he remained consistent with his vocation and true to the principles that gave meaning to his existence. His example teaches us that, if necessary, every Christian should be prepared to give up his life as a witness to his faith.
However, God does not ask the majority of Christians to shed their blood in testimony of the faith they profess. But he does ask of everyone an heroic steadfastness in proclaiming the truth through his life and words in environments which may be difficult and hostile to the teachings of Christ.
He asks them to live fully the Christan virtues in the middle of the world, in whatever circumstances life has placed them. This is the path that the majority of Christians will have to tread -- Christians who have to sanctify themselves through living heroism in the duties and circumstances of each day.
John’s fortitude and his coherent life are an example we can imitate. If we follow his example in the ordinary simple happenings of each day, many of our friends will come to see what motivates us, and will be moved by that serene testimony, just as many were converted as they contemplate the martyrdom -- the testimony of faith -- of the first Christians.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1990, 3:206-7, 212
THE SEVEN SUNDAYS DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH
Honors the seven joys and seven sorrows of St Joseph
Ref: “Handbook of Prayers”, Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), 1988, pp321-3
“What must Joseph have been, how grace must have worked through him, that he should be able to fulfill this task of the human upbringing of the Son of God.
“For Jesus must have resembled Joseph: in his way of working, in the features of his character, in his way of speaking. Jesus’ realism, his eye for detail, the way he sat at table and broke bread, his preference for using everyday situations to give doctrine -- all this reflects his childhood and the influence of Joseph.
“It’s not possible to ignore this sublime mystery: Jesus who is man, who speaks with the accent of a particular district of Israel, who resembles a carpenter called Joseph, is the Son of God.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop” in “Christ is passing by”, 40
1. The first sorrow and joy of St Joseph
His sorrow when he decided to leave the Blessed Virgin; his joy when the angel told him the mystery of the Incarnation, that Mary’s child is the Son of God and is the awaited Messiah.
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him 'Jesus', because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.” (Mt 1:20-21)
“The Gospels give us a picture of Joseph as a remarkably sound man who was in no way frightened or shy of life. On the contrary, he faced up to problems, dealt with difficult situations and showed responsibility and initiative in whatever he was asked to do.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop” in “Christ is passing by”, 40
• Dedication of the first temple of Our Lady, by St Peter, at Tripoli, now Tortosa.— Canisius, lib. v. de Beata Virgine, ch. 32. ( “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Dedication of the First church of Our Lady by St Peter (Tripoli). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Dedication of the First Church of Our Lady by St Peter in Tortosa, Italy. (www.divine will.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
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