#motherofallthefaithful — Public Fediverse posts

Quote of the day, 19 April: Blessed Marie-Eugène

Mary, Hope in the Night

At the foot of the cross, the Blessed Virgin stood—sorrowful, yet noble and strong, a true power. John was near her; he, too, was suffering. Among those whom Jesus had chosen, he alone remained at the foot of the cross. He welcomed the Virgin Mary, received her as his own.

What boldness, what grace—and at that moment, what a burden of sorrow! She followed where he led. She remained dignified, steadfast; conceived without sin, she was all purity and strength. There was not the slightest weakness in her will—and yet in her heart, what suffering, and in her spirit, what anguish!

Her Son, the Word made flesh, her King, was dead. He had been laid in a tomb like any mortal—He truly was dead, as the wound in His side made plain. There could be no illusions, not even for the most ardent love that longs to hope. Jesus was dead. And now, she no longer even had His body.

She was alone.

She was alone—the only true power that remained—but alone. And that strength, that fruitfulness, she carried with great pain, with deep sorrow.

The cross is our hope. O Mary, now you are our only living hope, and we come to stay near you.

O Virgin Mary, even today you reveal the power and effectiveness of Jesus’ final word on the cross: “Behold your mother.”

You truly are our mother. We wanted to comfort you, but in the presence of your strength, in the atmosphere you create, in the light and peace you radiate, we can only be—and we only want to be—your children.

O Virgin Mary, mother of Holy Saturday, impress our souls with the mark of this day; help us preserve everything that flows from you in this hour. We already knew you as our tender mother—we had never seen you so noble, so majestic, so powerful, and at the same time, so sorrowful. What a lesson for us: a lesson in trust, in hope in you, and a lesson for how we are to live.

Yesterday we asked to share in your motherhood—and that meant asking to share in your prayer, in your suffering, in your union with Jesus. You show us how to carry the weight of suffering so that it becomes fruitful, so that it brings forth new life in us.

O Virgin Mary, tomorrow—or even tonight—be a mother to us, mother of the life of the Risen Christ! Be a mother to each of us, to all those we love, to the Church, to the world. Make the world share in the peace that radiates from you.

Blessed Marie-Eugène of the Child Jesus

Meditation for Holy Saturday, 13 April 1963

Marie-Eugène de l’Enfant-Jésus 1986, Jésus, Contemplation du Mystère Pascal, Editions du Carmel, Toulouse.

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: Ivan Meštrović’s Descent from the Cross, sculpted between 1942 and 1946, captures the moment when Christ’s body is gently lowered into the arms of His Mother. The sculpture is located in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, where it continues to invite silent meditation on the mystery of Good Friday. Image credit: Nheyob – Own work / Wikimedia Commons (Some rights reserved).

⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
When I find myself alone in sorrow, do I entrust myself to Mary’s strength and allow her to shape my hope?
⬦ Join the conversation in the comments.

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