Mary exercised perfect faith, Mary: Day 074

Mary exercised perfect faith

If we’re looking for a perfect model of faith, St. Alphonsus says, we can look to Mary.

The theologian Francisco Suárez teaches that the most holy Virgin had more faith than all men and angels.

She saw her Son in the crib of Bethlehem, yet she believed him to be the Creator of the world. She saw him flee from Herod, yet she believed him to be the King of kings. She saw him born, yet she believed him to be eternal.

She saw him poor and in need of food, yet she believed him to be the Lord of the universe. She saw him lying on straw, yet she believed him to be omnipo- tent. She observed that he didn’t speak, yet she believed him to be infinite wis- dom. She heard him weeping, yet she believed him to be the joy of paradise.

And in the end, she saw him in death, despised and crucified; yet even though faith wavered in others, she remained firm in the belief that he was God. On these words of the Gospel, “standing by the cross of Jesus [was] his mother” (Jn 19:25), St. Antoninus says: “Mary stood, supported by her faith, which she retained, firm in the divinity of Christ.”

St. Albert the Great assures us that in this moment, “Mary exercised perfect faith. For even when the disciples were doubting, she did not doubt.” So Mary merited by her great faith to become “the light of all the faithful,” as St. Metho- dius calls her; and the “queen of the true faith,” as she is called by St. Cyril of Alexandria. In fact, in her liturgy, the holy Church herself attributes to the merits of Mary’s faith the destruction of all heresies: “Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, for you alone have destroyed all heresies throughout the world. —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Are there particular matters of faith that cause me difficulties or even doubts?
Have I asked Mary to help me overcome those difficulties and doubts?

CLOSING PRAYER
Blessed Mother, if “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1), then you are indeed a perfect model of faith, and the mother of all the faith- ful. Be my mother, and show me how to increase my faith.

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