Our Lady, Mother of the Church - Memorial

Some of us like to look up to certain role models in our lives. We try to follow their habits and ways, as we are attracted to their lives. But the reality of our earthly role models is that they do not remain with us forever. Some fall from their role model status, due to some significant wrongdoing or even scandal. Others become too old or even pass away, leaving behind a legacy which may be forgotten as the years go by. So what sort of role model do we really have, and what sort of role model should we Christians have?

As Christians, we have one role model whom we can look up to, and who has been guiding us and praying for us and with us all this while. That one role model is our Lady, Mother Mary. In the Gospel, when Jesus was dying on the cross, He gave Mary to the beloved disciple, and in doing so, gave Mary to us, His disciples, as our role model, mother and guide. In the reading, we see Mary with the apostles, joined in continuous prayer. Mary, as a role model, showed us what it means to be part of the church community, by joining in continuous prayer, instead of just keeping to herself.

So if we embrace Mary as our role model, then we do not need any other temporary earthly role model, since we already have an eternal role model who continues to pray for us and with us, while leading us to her Son, Jesus. Ultimately, Mary our role model is showing us the way on how we should become more and more like her Son Jesus, instead of bringing attention to herself, as what some of our earthly role models may do.

Our Lady, Mother of the Church - Memorial

What does it mean to be a church? Is a church merely a building? Of course not! A church is more than a building, since the early Christians did not even have proper buildings which we call churches today. Instead, a church is the faithful; the people of God; the community and body of Christ; united as one in love, charity, faith and prayer. There is no room for individualistic attitudes or personal agenda, since as church we are sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters in Christ.

In our church communities, we have one person who has been guiding us and praying for us and with us since the early times of Christianity. That one person is our Lady, Mother Mary. In the Gospel, when Jesus was dying on the cross, He gave Mary to the beloved disciple, and in doing so, gave Mary to us, His disciples. In the reading, we see Mary with the apostles, joined in continuous prayer. Mary did not stay aloof or keep to herself, but was there praying for and with the apostles, after Jesus was taken up into heaven. The readings show us that Mary is also our mother, and that is why we celebrate "Our Lady, Mother of the Church" today.

With Mary as our mother, let us continue to trust in her love and care, and follow her example in reaching out to others in love and prayer. Let us offer our presence as she did, to all in need, especially the sick, the aged, the destitute, the downtrodden, and many more, so that in all we do, God may be glorified.

Our Lady, Mother and Queen

When we look at a queen, what sort of impression do we get? Some of us think that a queen is a serene figure who gives moral and emotional support to the king. Some of us may have seen or experienced a queen who is the head of the country or the head of the government, and plays an active role in ensuring that the country remains peaceful and prosperous. But what sort of queen do we have in Mother Mary?

In Mother Mary, we have a queen who shows us what it means to be humble and willing to place our trust in God, no matter what happens. Though Mother Mary knew the risks and dangers she would face by agreeing to become the mother of God's Son, Jesus, she still said, 'I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.' We also see later in the Gospel, where Mother Mary showed care and concern for her cousin Elizabeth, by going to be with her and help her in her pregnancy, even though Mother Mary was herself pregnant. Such a wonderful, loving, humble and caring queen we have, a queen of our hearts.

Today, let us follow our Mother Mary's example, by being humble and willing to do God's will. Let us also show our care and concern towards others, just as Mother Mary did, so that others would know that we are Christians by our love.

Our Lady of the Rosary, Memorial

The feast of the Holy Rosary originated from the naval victory at Lepanto on 7 October 1571. In that naval battle, a small combined Christian fleet defeated a mighty Turkish armada, thus stopping the invasion of Christian Europe. The victory was considered a miracle and Pope St. Pius V attributed it to the praying of the Holy Rosary and the intercession of Our Lady.

From this incident, we can discover that the Rosary is indeed a very special devotion to Our Lady. Many Popes, clergy, religious, saints and lay persons have always recommended it as a good form of devotion. The Rosary is vocal and mental prayer; and it is also personal as well as communal prayer. When we meditate upon the mysteries of the Rosary, we experience Christ through Mary. Not only that, by praying the Rosary, Mary accompanies us in prayer, and praying the Rosary sustains us in the battle against the evil one and his accomplices. Therefore, let us not slack in praying the Rosary, and like Mary surrender ourselves to God so that He may be our help and guide.

Our Lady of the Rosary, Memorial

Throughout her life on earth, Mary said yes to God. We read of many instances of Mary saying yes. In today's Gospel, the angel Gabriel brought news that she would become the mother of God, Jesus Christ. Though she knew the consequences of this news, she still said yes. When she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, she said yes to God's greatness in the Magnificat. At the wedding in Cana, once again we hear of Mary saying yes, by letting God take care of things, when she said: "Do whatever He tells you."

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. The rosary and the mysteries we meditate on reminds us of the many yesses that Mary had said to God. When we pray the rosary, we are not praying to Mary, as some may believe. We are praying with Mary, and asking her to pray for us. When we pray the rosary, we are not only reminded of Mary's yesses, but we are also reminded of our own yesses. Have we truly, like Mary, said yes to God? Are we willing to be humble and learn from Him, and depend on His providence and love, just as Mary did?

Our Lady, Mother and Queen

Being a mother is certainly not an easy thing. We sometimes come across articles of how some women go through great difficulty and sacrifices to bring up their children well. We also see stories on television on how some mothers go through great pain and suffering so that their children would have a better life. Some mothers also go through depression due to the strains of motherhood.

In today's Gospel, we come across Mary receiving news from Angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of Jesus. For an unmarried woman to become pregnant in those days, such a woman would have been persecuted and even put to death. Today in some cultures, such a woman may be shunned, obstracised, expelled from the village, or even put to death. Mary knew what she was getting herself into, and yet she was still willing to go ahead with God's plan. She trusted that God would make a way and that He would take care of things. With full of trust and confidence in God's providence, Mary willingly and wholeheartedly said: "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me."

What about us? If we are faced with a similar situation, would we trust God and say the same words as Mary said? If we were to rely on our own abilities and our own strength, we may find it difficult or even impossible. But if we rely on God's providence and care, nothing indeed is impossible to God.