The Angel Gabriel’s Annunciation to Mary is particularly apt in these times. These excerpts from the Gospel of Luke are verses our Marianist Founders and early collaborators were familiar with and celebrated. They gathered as small sodalities, elaborately celebrating feast days. They upheld Mary as their model and participated in her mission of bringing Christ into the world with their “yes.”
Today, similar to the early 1800s, there seems to be much to fear and widespread chaos beyond our immediate control. Polarization in governments at home and abroad, the global climate crisis, and increased othering of members of the human family are just a few of the myriad concerns that fill our news feeds and occupy our dinner conversations. Yet, we have the example of Mary who, too, felt afraid of what appeared to her a crazy promise of an angel of God. When she probed, “How can this be?,” the angel assured her that nothing would be impossible with God.
Henry Ossawa Tanner’s depiction of the Annunciation, housed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and pictured here, captures the scene in a way that reminds us that Mary is human, like one of us. Some depictions of Mary portray her in a way that seems distant because she was both immaculately conceived and bore Christ as the first tabernacle in her womb. Though these things are true, Mary was also a Middle Eastern teenage woman who lived during the first century. In her humanity, we can relate with her, talk to her, and invite her to walk with us. Our Marianist Charism invites this sort of relationship with Mary. She had some fears and concerns in her time about God and God’s promises. We might have some fears and concerns in our time. We, too, are called to offer our “yes” because we, like Mary, are assured that nothing will be impossible with God. As we prepare for and celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25, let’s consider how we might deepen our relationship with Mary.
- How might we invite Mary to walk with us amid our fears and concerns?
- How might we understand our relationship with her in a way that relates to how our Marianist forebears encountered her?
Looking to deepen your relationship with Mary? Here are a few resources we recommend:
- Mary, Collaborator with the Holy Spirit, by Fr. Paul Landolfi, SM, explores Mary’s relationship with the Holy Spirit from the eyes of Chaminade and Marianists.
- “The Life of Mary,” by Fr. Paul Landolfi, is a free and downloadable e-publication on our website that reflects on the life and witness of Mary, told through her joy, sorrow, and glory.
- “Mother Mary, the Juiciest Tomato of All,” by Fr. Joseph Lacker, SM, a free and downloadable e-publication on our website, draws upon literature and Scripture to reflect on his relationship with Mary and invite readers to grow in relationship with Mary.