Another Mary Break at Work Today

We continue our Mary break during these days between the Ascension and Pentecost, in the midst of Our Blessed Mother's special month of May. As noted last time, we seek her counsel and consolation this day, her gracious assistance to help us raise our daily work from the common and ordinary to become a great song of praise.

Take a few minutes to read, even better a few more to meditate on, the beautiful, inspiring words from the pen of the great spiritual writer, Fr. Edward Leen, C.S.Sp. You will see, if you don't already know, how Our Mother helps us grow closer to and remain with Our Lord, even in the midst of a busy day at work:

Our Blessed Lady is really a Mother. Now you all know what that word ‘mother’ means. Every letter of that word spells loyalty, sacrifice and love. All the dearest associations of life cling to it. The word brings up a vision of her who brought us into the world, who cared for us and nourished us. It tells of days of anxious watching and loving care. A mother’s love is the most perfect reflection of the love of God Himself. It is the most gentle, the most tender, the most compassionate affection on earth. A mother’s heart is a divine creation. No one but God could have thought of motherhood. None but God could have given us mothers. So wonderful a creation is motherhood that God Himself determined to have a Mother. When He decided to send His Divine Son upon earth to save us, a Mother was chosen to minister to His needs. And Mary was this Mother. Of all mothers she is the tenderest, the most understanding, the gentlest, the most full of sympathy and compassion, the most motherly, and Mary was all this for her beloved Son. When she smiled on Him at Bethlehem her smile was a perfect mother’s smile; when she clasped her Child to her heart at Nazareth it was the perfect embrace of a Mother; when she stood beneath His Cross on Calvary her sacrifice was the perfect consummation of her motherly love. The relation of a mother and son, always sacred, reaches its summit in the highest perfection that can be conceived when Mary is Mother and Jesus is Son. The love of a mother is unlike all other love and the crown of the love of mothers is the love of Mary the Mother of Jesus.
 
When you think of it, was it not a tremendous privilege for Our Lady to be the Mother of Jesus! For thirty years she lived side by side with Him. She alone of all the human race enjoyed with Him for all those thirty years that intimacy and familiarity which exist between a mother and a son. During those years she exercised all the functions and fulfilled all the duties of a mother. She was the witness of His smallest actions, she piously laid up each one of His words in her heart, she knew intimately each one of the sentiments which animated Him. And to His Mother Jesus paid a perfect tribute of submission, respect and love. Never was Mother so loved, never was Son so loving. Now it was in this close association with her Son that Mary learned to love mankind. It was with Jesus that she prepared to be the Mother of Men. For, besides being the Mother of Jesus, Mary is our Mother.

I hope you enjoyed some benefit from our Mary break. And I pray that as we all prepare for and celebrate Pentecost this Sunday, this great feast finds us all well-disposed to receive and cooperate with the graces that will flow from it.