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An innocent, sinless virgin; a quiet, contemplative mother-to-be; a faithful, devoted wife and mother; even a "woman clothed with the sun" who is taken up into heaven (Revelation 12:1). Yet all these images run the risk of making us forget how human she was. Like any of us, Mary enjoyed many happy times with her family, as well as many challenges and difficulties.
She experienced the joy of seeing her son grow and learn, as well as the everyday demands of wife and mother in her day. At the same time, she was also forced to cope with situations in which a sword pierced her very soul (Luke 2:35).
While Scripture tells us precious little about Mary, there are enough episodes to help us come to a few conclusions about her life of prayer—and about her role as a model for our own prayer lives.
A Magnificat Disposition. Mary’s Song, called the Magnificat, tells us more than any other gospel story just how Mary approached prayer (Luke 1:46-55). Mary had heard that her long-barren cousin Elizabeth was pregnant, and so she went to visit her. When they met, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy, and Elizabeth herself proclaimed Mary as “most…
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