Son of God, help me to praise your mother!, Mary: Day 356

Son of God, help me to praise your mother!

If we feel inadequate to praise our Blessed Mother, says St. John of Damas- cus, then we should ask her Son to help us.

Our Lady is the Mother of God, who alone is good and infinite in his condescension, who preferred to many splendid gifts the two copper coins of the widow in the temple. She will indeed receive us, who are paying off our debt through praise, and make us a return out of all proportion to what we offer.

What shall we say, O Queen? What words shall we use? What praise shall we pour upon your sacred and glorified head, you giver of good gifts and of riches, the pride of the human race, the glory of all creation, through whom it is truly blessed?

The One whom nature did not contain in the beginning was born of you. The invisible One was contemplated by you face to face. Word of God, open my slow lips, and give their speech your richest blessing! Enflame us with the grace of your Spirit, through whom fishermen became orators, and ignorant men spoke supernatural wisdom!

Only then can our feeble voices contribute to your beloved mother’s praises, even if it means that her greatness will be extolled by our misery. She is the one chosen from an ancient race, by a predetermined counsel and the good pleasure of God the Father. He had begotten you, Son of God, in eternity within himself; she brought you forth in the latter times—you who are our atoning sacrifice and salvation, our justice and redemption, life of life, light of light, and true God of true God! —St. John of Damascus, First Homily on the Dormition

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . .  .

What does it mean to “pay off our debt through praise”? What is the “return” we receive for praising Our Lady?

CLOSING PRAYER

Mary, I will praise you in the words of my Lord, which foreshadowed your fullness of grace: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all!” (Prv 31:29).

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