Mother Mary (from Jason A. Baguia)

First of all, I want to thank Fr. Luis for giving me this chance to share my faith with more people. Gracias, Padre!

My experience of the recent XXIII World Youth Day (WYD) in Sydney, Australia from July 15-20 remains vivid in my mind and heart. Today, as the whole Catholic World celebrates the feast of the Dedication of Saint Mary Major, the largest church in honor of Mary, Mother of Jesus Our Lord in Rome, I recall and deeply cherish the words of the Holy Father, Benedict XVI at the Angelus on the closing of the WYD. Of Mary, the Pope said:

As Mary stood before the Lord, she represented the whole of humanity. In the angel’s message, it was as if God made a marriage proposal to the human race. And in our name, Mary said yes.

In fairy tales, the story ends there, and all “live happily ever after”. In real life it is not so simple. For Mary there were many struggles ahead, as she lived out the consequences of the “yes” that she had given to the Lord. Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce her heart. When Jesus was twelve years old, she experienced every parent’s worst nightmare when, for three days, the child went missing. And after his public ministry, she suffered the agony of witnessing his crucifixion and death. Throughout her trials she remained faithful to her promise, sustained by the Spirit of fortitude. And she was gloriously rewarded.

Dear young people, we too must remain faithful to the “yes” that we have given to the Lord’s offer of friendship. We know that he will never abandon us. We know that he will always sustain us through the gifts of the Spirit. Mary accepted the Lord’s “proposal” in our name. So let us turn to her and ask her to guide us as we struggle to remain faithful to the life-giving relationship that God has established with each one of us. She is our example and our inspiration, she intercedes for us with her Son, and with a mother’s love she shields us from harm.

As I return to the world of family, friends, work, and working in the Lord's vineyard through music, youth ministry, prayer, and preaching, I thank the Lord for the gift of a Mother in the spiritual life, a mother who has suffered for the cause of good more than any other person aside from Jesus. She has gone ahead of each of us and to me she is a reminder that no suffering because of love is ever wasted, that pouring out one's life trying to be faithful to God's plans is worth it and is the cause of a joy that never ends. I ask her to continue to accompany me as I look to do God's will daily, so that in my life, too, the words she once sang will be true: "My spirit rejoices in God my Savior... the Almighty has done great things for me." (Luke 1:47,49)