Catholic Programs

LIVING OUR CATHOLIC FAITH | Wednesday, May 31

 

First off, we would love to invite you to join the OLQA Connections Rosary Group next Monday, June 5th as we pray through the Joyful mysteries, including those of the Annunciation and Visitation. We have spent the last two years praying the Joyful mysteries each week for the intentions of our OLQA families, staff, and students. Parents meet in the Parish Office right after morning drop-off (we begin by 8:05 AM and are done by 8:20 AM). No experience necessary – cheat sheets are available and widely used. We hope you will join us!

 

As we wrap up May and our special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, let’s look deeper into the feast of the Visitation, which the Catholic church celebrates today. We probably all know the story of the angel Gabriel announcing God's hope for Mary to consent to conceive a son by the Holy Spirit, while she was betrothed to Joseph (Luke 1:26). We celebrate this mystery as the Annunciation. Luke then tells us the mystery of the Visitation, where after receiving her miraculous conception, Mary sets off “in haste” to visit her older cousin Elizabeth, who despite her old age is 6 months pregnant with Saint John the Baptist. (Luke 1:39).

 

At the heart of these two joyful mysteries is, of course, walking alongside the stories of the life of Jesus in joy, however, they also feature our Mother Mary as the truest example of Christian discipleship. What can we learn from her today?

 

Mary, knowing she could be stoned to death as punishment for becoming pregnant while betrothed (Deuteronomy 22), instinctively says yes to God (her FIAT) when the Angel Gabriel revealed His plan for her. She gives herself in complete submission to His divine will – the miraculous conception of Jesus, which became the catalyst for our salvation. Upon her arrival, Elizabeth herself is filled with the Holy Spirit and praises Mary as “the mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:41).  

 

Mary and Elizabeth are both believers. This is the joy they share with us as the first messengers of the Good News. While we are all called to share the Good News with non-believers, we should remember how important it is to evangelize each other as believers as well. When we share our faith with each other, like Mary and Elizabeth did, we strengthen and encourage each other. The Visitation inspires us to be vessels of compassion, support, and joy, thus shaping our relationships and the world around us with the transformative power of Christ's love.

Our Lady Queen of Angels, pray for us.