October 13, 2005
October is exciting because it is the month of the Holy Rosary! Mother Mary, in all of her apparitions, has been calling us her children to pray the Rosary everyday. You will find this same call in the lives of the saints, especially our late beloved Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. May I quote my favorite John Paul II homily on our Lady? Here he teaches us the meaning of the first Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation (see Luke 1:26-38), and what it means in our life:
“But, my beloved brothers and sisters, Mary is not the dawn of our redemption in the manner of an inert, passive instrument. At the dawn of our salvation there resounds her free response, her Fiat, her unconditional yes to the cooperation that God expected of her, just as he expects of us.
The initiative of salvation certainly belongs to the Most Holy Trinity. Mary’s perpetual virginity – which found a faithful response in Saint Joseph, her virginal spouse – expresses that priority of God: Christ, as man, will be conceived without the intervention of a man. But that same virginity, which will be preserved during and after birth, is also an expression of Mary’s absolute readiness for God’s plans.
Her response marked a decisive moment in the history of mankind. For this reason Christians are pleased to repeat it in the daily prayer of the Angelus and try to have the same disposition of soul that inspired those words: “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say”. (Lk 1:38)
Mary’s joyful “fiat” attests to her interior liberty, her trust and her serenity. She did not know how God’s plans would be concretely carried out. But far from being afraid and distressed, she appears supremely free and willing. Her “yes” at the Annunciation meant not only the acceptance of the motherhood that was offered her, but also her commitment in the mystery of Redemption. This was the work of her Son, but Mary’s participation was real and effective. In giving her consent to the message of the Angel, Mary agreed to collaborate in the entire work of mankind’s reconciliation with God. She acts knowingly and without placing conditions. She shows herself disposed to the service that God asks of her.
Beloved brothers and sisters: we have in Mary the model and guide for our path. I know that there is a large group of young people here who wish to live their Christian life generously. Young people of Guayaquil, I encourage you to maintain, like Mary, an attitude of total openness to God. Like her, keep your gaze fixed on the holy God who is always mysteriously close to you. Contemplate this God who is close to you, Christ who passes near you so many times. Learn to say: “Let it be done to me as you say”. And learn to say it fully, like Mary: without reservation, without fear of the definitive and irrevocable commitments, with that same attitude of Christian readiness – even if it is demanding ...”
God bless you; let us pray for each other,
Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
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