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Our human devotion
to our own parents because of their love or to a person who has
significantly supported our lives is incorporated into our daily life
expressions of faith and devotion. One seems to never forget a mother's
love. We attempt to do the same in relishing artistic pieces of the Madonna
and child. We are doing something very human, expressing devotion. When any
one of us cherishes religious art whether it is a Bethlehem birth scene or
Mary at the foot of the Cross or Mary holding a dead son, we are able to
connect with our own experience of the joy and sorrow of human love and the
height and depth of human experiences when our faith in a good God is
challenged.
Mary helps us spiritually. Mary helps us to
believe enough to walk through all of human experience with confidence that
all things work for the good for those who love God. Appreciating Mary as
Mother of the Lord helps us accept, like her, the grace from God that saves
our souls.
Mary, Woman of Liberating Faith
Liberation and Mary may seem to be a strange
match. However, when we examine her own self understanding of her mission,
we sense her radical freedom to serve God and to be present in the
establishment of the kingdom of God. We receive this sense of her identity
and role from her Magnificat, her prayer in Luke 1: 46-55.
And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
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