All things to all people, Mary: Day 094

All things to all people

St. Alphonsus notes that because of Mary’s desire to bring mercy to all, she has accommodated herself to the needs of all.

When the Samaritans refused to receive Jesus Christ and his teachings, St. James and St. John asked him whether they should command fire to fall from heaven and devour them. Our Lord replied, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of ” (Lk 9:55). It’s as if he were saying, “I am of such a tender and compassionate spirit that I came from heaven to save and not to chastise sinners—yet you wish to see them lost. Fire, indeed, and punishment! Speak no more of chastisements, for such a spirit is not mine.”

But of Mary, whose spirit is the same as that of her Son, we can never doubt that she is all-inclined to mercy. As she said to St. Bridget: “I am called the Mother of Mercy, and truly God’s own mercy made me so merciful.”

For this reason Mary was seen by St. John in the Book of Revelation as clothed with the sun: “And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun” (Rv 12:1). Commenting on these words, St. Bernard turns towards the Blessed Virgin and says: “You, Lady, have clothed the sun—that is, the Eter- nal Word—with human flesh. But he has clothed you with his power and mercy.”

“This queen,” continues St. Bernard, “is so compassionate and kind, that when a sinner, whoever he may be, entrusts himself to her charity, she doesn’t question his merits, or whether he’s worthy or unworthy of her attention. She hears and helps everyone.” “As a Mother of Mercy,” the same saint says in another place, “she has made herself all things to all people. Out of her most abundant charity she has made herself a debtor to the wise and the foolish, to the righteous and to sinners, and opens to all her compassionate heart, so that all may receive of the fullness of its treasures.” —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
It was St. Paul who famously said, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor 9:22). How does this statement apply to Mary as well?

CLOSING PRAYER
Thank you, Blessed Lady, for stooping to our various conditions, and becoming for each of us what we most need: mother or queen, advocate or refuge, warrior or comforter, model or counselor.

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