Spiritual Fitness

Most blessed of all women
October is a month that is especially dedicated to the Blessed Mother. In honoring her, we also honor all women. Mary is "woman" come to perfection.
I think of all the wonderful women God has placed in my life beginning with my mother and grandmothers. They were female matriarchs. They were strong in faith, unafraid to accept the pain and hardships that came their way. They were women of virtue and strong character. They were women of love.
All of these virtues are found in the Blessed Mother. She was full of grace full of God's perfection in such a way that brought out the full beauty of what it means to be a woman. Her faithful love teaches us all how we can love Jesus, and put God first in our lives.
First, Mary held nothing back from God. "Let it be done unto me according to your word." Her openness allowed God to become man within her. When Jesus was born, Mary loved Him with all her heart. She pondered and treasured the events in her life both the good and bad. As woman, her trust and love became the spiritual air her own Son would breath. She would be Jesus' first teacher.
Mary, as the new woman of the new creation the new Eve, who reversed the disobedience of the first Eve. While the first Eve lost trust in God's word, Mary had absolute confidence in it. She believed that her Son was the living Word of God. She told others at the wedding feast of Cana to "do whatever he tells you." If we only would, we would see the ordinary waters of our lives suddenly turn into the best of wine! Mary loved Jesus with a steadfast and faithful love as the mother of sorrows during his rejection and murder on the cross. She stood at the foot of the cross and would not leave him. The strength of women! Now she stands with us as our mother during our trials.
Mary had great spiritual strength. All the virtues and fruits of God's Spirit were alive and at work in her. I would like to offer a prayer asking Mary for her intercession for us, and especially all women, as we continue our journey into the new millennium.

Most Blessed Mother, we come to you as children. We desire to love your Son as you loved him. Help us, dear Mother.
We desire to be strong in our faith, even believing the unbelievable as you did.
We desire to have great hope, so that even at the darkest hour we will persevere in our trust of God.
We desire to know love, so we may dwell in God, and God in us.
Dear Mother, teach us to respond to God with trust and surrender. God the Father comes to each of us with the gift of his Son. May we accept Jesus with open, trusting hearts. We know that doing so leads to joy and will allow us to rejoice with you and sing, "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior."

By: Fr. Bill Ashbaugh is pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Howell
Originally Published: October 2000