Ave Maria Meditations
“Jesus loved His Virgin Mother. At the very beginning of His public life He wished to give proofs of His filial love. It was at Cana in Galilee. Jesus and His holy Mother were present at a wedding feast and, the wine having failed, the servants came and gave the news to Mary. Immediately, the Blessed Virgin turning to her divine Son said to Him: ” They have no wine ” (John II, 3). And Jesus answering His Mother: “Woman,” said He to her, (Woman par excellence, the unique, the only one among all, who is without sin), “What is it to Me and to thee ? My hour is not yet come ” (John II,4).
I have not yet commenced to work the great miracles which I am to accomplish. But by addressing yourself to Me in this circumstance, you wish, doubtless, to recall to Me what is common between us; you wish to remind Me of the sweet bonds which unite us, the community of life, of blood, of thought, of desire and of love which exists between us. Could I resist your prayer and not anticipate the hour which I had fixed ? And the Mother of Jesus understanding His thoughts, sure of His filial Heart, turned towards the servants and said, “Whatever He shall say to you, do ye.”
And when the water pots had been filled to the brim with water, Jesus wrought His first miracle. We are aware that these words of our Savior have been given a different interpretation. But for one who had some knowledge of the Heart of Jesus, may not these words contain a delicate, affectionate allusion to that intimate union which nature forms between a mother and her child ? Jesus wished that all should be in common between Himself and His chaste Mother. He associated her with His greatness, He united her to His joys, He made her share in His sorrows. He made her victim with Himself, priest with Himself, and in a certain sense, redemptrix with Him, the divine Redeemer. Love wills this union, this complete union of sentiments and operations.
The first look of Jesus as He uttered His first cry in the manger was for Mary; the first miracle of His public life was wrought at her request, the last thoughts of Jesus on the Cross and His last look will still be for her. Seeing the Blessed Virgin standing at the foot of the Cross, agonizing in unspeakable sorrow. He leans towards her, and on the point of dying, He puts into her arms what was dearest to Him after herself : souls ! It is His last legacy, it is final gift of love. In the person of His beloved John, He confided to her all His children. He made her the fruitful mother among all mothers, the Queen of the universe, the dispenser of His graces.
Among the sentiments of the heart of man, there is perhaps none more delicate, more profound than the love of’ a son for his mother. It is an exquisite mixture of strength and tenderness, of respectful submission, and childlike familiarity. When the son reposes his head on the bosom of the mother who nourished him, he thinks himself still little, still weak, but very much loved; he presses his mother to his heart, he feels himself strong, ardent to defend her, powerful to protect her. With her, he is docile as a child, simple, and full of confidence. He speaks to her of his desires, he confesses to her his weakness, he tells her about his projects, he loves to take counsel from her, he would wish to obey her all his life.
Love for his mother is the first love that is awakened in the heart of man; it is also the last which remains. It is a love which guards, protects, purifies, consoles and sustains. It is a love, the only one perhaps, to which one can give oneself with all one’s heart without fearing its being tarnished, without dreading bitter disillusionment. (In considering) the Mother of fair love, what Mary was for Jesus, she is for the priest”…
wrote Mother Louise Margaret Claret de la Touche (The Sacred Heart and the Priesthood)
It can be added that this Heavenly Mother, the Blessed Virgin, also has been given to us as our mother and we are her devoted children. She is with us in our joys and our sorrows. Thanks be to God!
