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In the Magnificat, the great hymn of Our Lady that we have just heard in the gospel, we find some surprising words.
Mary says: “Henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” The Mother of the Lord prophesies the Marian praises of the Church for all of the future, the Marian devotion of the people of God until the end of time. In praising Mary, the Church did not invent something “adjacent” to Scripture; she responded to this prophecy which Mary made at that moment of grace.
And Mary’s words were not only personal, perhaps arbitrary words. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit as St. Luke said, exclaimed with a loud cry: “Blessed is she who believed… .” And Mary, also filled with the Holy Spirit, continues and completes what Elizabeth said, affirming: “All generations will call me blessed.” It is a real prophesy, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and in venerating Mary, the Church responds to a command of the Holy Spirit; she does what she has to do.
We do not praise God sufficiently by keeping silent about his saints, especially Mary “the Holy One” who became his dwelling place on earth. The simple and multiform light of God appears to us exactly in its variety and richness only in the countenance of the saints, who are the true mirrors of his light. And it is precisely by looking at Mary’s face that we can see more clearly than in any other way the beauty, goodness, and mercy of God. In her face we can truly perceive the divine light.
“All generations will call me blessed.” We can praise Mary, we can venerate Mary, for she is “blessed,” she is blessed forever. And this is the subject of this feast [the Assumption of Mary]. She is blessed because she is united to God; she lives with God and in God.
—Homily, August 15, 2006
Our beloved Holy Father reminded us that our Blessed Mother Mary “is blessed because she is united to God; she lives with God and in God.” Likewise, each of us is called to be holy and blessed by living with God and in God and by being “the true mirrors of His Light” reflecting “the beauty, goodness, and mercy of God”.
At the wedding in Cana we can see, not only the influence that Mary had on
her Son, Jesus, but still more. The wine ran out, and when told by His mother
He responded “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not
yet come.” Mary knew, through her faith in Jesus, that the time is now for His
first miracle. It is very important to note (as Catholics), that Mary does not
respond to her Son. She knew in the silence of her heart that this is the time
and place for Jesus to expose His authority. So what does she do. Keep in mind it is not Our Lord who initiates this. It is Mary. She simply says to the servers “Do whatever He tells you.” It is not stated, but rather implied, that
Mary knew, beforehand, that her Son was ready for His first miracle. And
her faith was so great that she asked Jesus nothing. She simply commanded
the servers to do what He tells you. This, Our Lord’s first miracle, tells us
much about the knowledge of Mary and the bond between mother and Son.