Mary hoped in God, Mary: Day 205

Mary hoped in God, Mary: Day 205 February 11, 2016

year_with_mary_alphonsus_3Mary hoped in God

Mary demonstrated her hope, St. Alphonsus points out, when she saw St. Joseph’s anxiety.

Hope takes its rise in faith. For God enlightens us by faith to know his goodness and the promises he has made, so that by this knowledge we may rise by hope to the desire of possessing him. Since Mary had the virtue of faith to its highest degree, she also had hope to the same degree of excellence. She could say with David, “But for me it is good to be near my God, to put my hope in the Lord God” (see Ps 73:28). Mary was indeed that faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit, of whom it was said, “Who is that coming up from the wilderness, flowing with delights, leaning on her beloved?” (See Sg 8:5.)

For Mary was always perfectly detached from earthly affections, looking upon the world as a wilderness. So in no way did she rely either on creatures or on her own merits. Instead, she relied only on divine grace, in which was all her confidence. And so she always advanced in the love of God.

The most holy Virgin gave a clear indication of the greatness of her hope in God when she saw the anxiety of her holy spouse St. Joseph. Unable to account for her miraculous pregnancy, he was troubled at the thought of leaving her: “Joseph . . . resolved to send her away quietly” (Mt 1:19). It seemed necessary at that point for her to reveal the hidden mystery to St. Joseph. But no! As Cor- nelius à Lapide says, in his commentary on these words of the Gospel: “The Blessed Virgin was unwilling to reveal this secret to Joseph, because she might seem to be boasting of her gifts. So she resigned herself to the care of God, in the confident hope that he would guard her innocence and reputation.”
—St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
How might I demonstrate today in a concrete way my hope in God to do for me what’s best?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a “Novena to Our Lady of Hope”: I pray, dearest Mother, that through your most powerful intercession my heart may be filled with holy hope, so that in life’s darkest hour I may never fail to trust in God my Savior, but by walking in the way of his commandments, I may merit to be united with him, and with you in the eternal joys of heaven.

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