We call the Mother of Jesus using with a very meaningful title. We name her the “Blessed” Virgin Mary. In doing so, we are really continuing the great joy that pervaded Elizabeth’s soul, when she welcomed Mary to her house. In doing so, even more, we fulfill the prophecy our beloved Mother said in such occasion, for she exulted: “henceforth all generations will call me blessed,” and that is what we do, we call her “blessed.”
Yet what is inside this short word? To what extent we go in saying what Elizabeth said and we repeat in every Hail Mary: Blessed are Thee amongst women”? Today, in the beautiful solemnity of Mary’s Assumption, we got a glimpse of all that is included in that way of addressing our Lord’s Mother.
Let’s be guided by Elizabeth’s joy and follow her words. She said: “blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” There is a reason for calling Mary blessed: she is the one that has believed in a rather unique way. There is something that she believed and made herself blessed: she believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her.
And what was spoken to her? Spontaneously we would reply: that she ought be the Mother of our Saviour. Yet that is only part of all that she heard. More was spoken to her. The Saint Archangel added: “the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Besides, he didn’t refrain to say: “with God nothing will be impossible.” Conceded, what Mary was about to experience goes beyond every human expectation, for after her acceptance She would welcome God, with all his power and mercy, in a way that has no possible comparison. Her pregnancy was a fulfilment of the Messenger’s words, “With God nothing is impossible.” Yet I would go further to affirm that her pregnancy and her giving birth was not the limit of her experience of “the power of the Most High.”
Just to remember one scene: being close to the Cross, Mary could perceive and learn amazing facts on God’s love for humankind. Standing so close and being so near to Jesus, She was able to know in a most outstanding way that “With God nothing is impossible.”
On the other hand, the Cross was not the last limit of Mary’s earthly life. We must suppose that in the trembling and powerful beginning of the Church our Blessed Mother also knew much of “the power of the Most High.” Her blessing, once received and never lost, could not but grow up, day by day, for it is the rule of God’s love to bestow its gifts whenever and wherever they are asked for and well accepted.
So, to what extent goes that blessing She received, and that is not different from the life of grace in Her soul? You can see that from the very beginning many preachers dared to say astonishing things regarding this question. Guided by the Spirit who made his dwelling in Mary’s soul, those preachers began to say that the power of God only could be full and complete in Mary’s life and after She no longer stayed on this earth. The only possible obstacle between God and us is sin. What could, therefore, prevent this Blessed Virgin from receiving the full extent of God’s love in the integrity of her very self?
The testimony of the Scripture comes in our aid. We heard today, from St. Paul: “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” We are told that the fullness of life is Christ’s ultimate and everlasting gift. That is what we proclaim in today’s feast, that the Blessed Virgin has been and is in such a way blessed that there is no obstacle preventing her to be fully alive, as Christ himself is alive and giving life.
In other words, what we celebrate today is the answer to another great question: Where are we heading to, as believers in the gospel? Now we can proclaim: We are heading to the glory we already behold in the most beautiful face of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May God grant us his grace to join Her in heaven, and to sing with Her the mercy that rescued our lives and brought us to the imperishable kingdom of light, peace and gladness. Amen.