August 2018
Reflections of God's Goodness
Mary is our model of holiness.
Holiness is not about looking pious, it is about being selfless, thinking of others before ourselves.
Holiness means to be close to God and to be filled with God’s grace.
Mary believed the angel’s message, and her answer was a simple, “be it done,” that changed her life. Year after year, Mary trusted God’s love and His call upon her heart. That faith and trust enabled her to endure not only the normal ups and downs of life with joy, but helped her through the passion and death of her Son.
Mary was a young girl from a small town. Like most of us, she spent much of her time doing ordinary things like cooking, sewing, cleaning and taking care of Jesus and Joseph. Like us, Mary had to choose each day to meet God in all circumstances of her life.
As a result of her faith and trust in God, grace upon grace was given to her to live her life with love and joy and to continue to reflect God’s love in the world - even today. Does it seem impossible to you to be like Mary?
As we turn to the Lord, to His word, and to His mother, we can deepen our faith and receive the grace we need to be instruments of God’s love in our world today. We can strengthen our faith by connecting with God every day and giving our life to Him again.
This month, let’s ask Mary to help us be less self-centered, to think and pray for others before ourselves, and to seek God’s grace for growing in holiness. Mary has a history of helping those who ask!
Remember this prayer? “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided…” (The Memorare, A Prayer for Help from our Blessed Mother).
May God bless our efforts to be more like Mary and grow in our baptismal call to holiness.
Blessings,
Sister Mary Ann Barnhorn, SNDdeN
Director of Development
“Trust-filled prayer is a response of a heart open to encountering God face to face, where all is peaceful and the quiet voice of the Lord can be heard in the midst of silence.”
