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Hebrews 4:16 “So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.”
Mercy can be defined as the disposition to be kind and forgiving, but unlike compassion, mercy puts the feeling of sympathy into practice with a readiness to assist and help. This is the first study that I have honestly felt stumped at writing! It seems so simple, but I really found having to write about Mary’s virtue of mercy to be so hard to put into words. Yes, of course, I know that Mary is merciful, but in what context and how is she merciful? It was not until I started to reflect and dive into Mary’s motherhood did I really start to understand her ability to be merciful. Mary’s greatest accomplishment is her motherhood and it makes sense that her ability to be merciful would be tied to her role as the mother of our Lord.
There have been countless times in my life where I have found refuge in prayer because of my worries, sadness, and sufferings. I have found myself throwing everything down at the feet of our Lord and I have a feeling that many of you who are reading this do the same thing, but there is someone else who is ready and waiting to comfort us in our afflictions. Mary is always there waiting for us and wanting to help us in the sufferings and routine of everyday life. The greatest thing about having a relationship with Mary is her ability to be a mediator of love between us and Christ. This means that while we are fleeing to Mary for comfort and love, she is also bringing us closer to her Son, so we will not only be getting the love from our heavenly Mother, but will also be growing in relationship and love with our Lord.
This relationship we can have with our Mother will also allow us to experience Mary’s virtue of mercy. The love Mary has for her Son is the same love she has for us where Mary will love us unconditionally and fully because she is our Mother as well. This means that Mary is waiting for us to come to her with our suffering because she is ready to help us and assist us in whatever she needs. Just as a mother wants to comfort her children and help them in their suffering, Mary wants to help us, her children. I encourage you in this New Year to not only strive to be more like Mary in all of her virtues, but to flee to her in times of affliction. She is always waiting, always ready to help us whenever we go to her for consolation.
Reflect and Discuss: How can you be more like Mary in her merciful love? How is God asking you to be more merciful in this New Year?
Act: If you haven’t already, I encourage you to make a consecration to Jesus through Mary. Devote yourself more closely to our Lady and in turn, you will grow in relationship with our Lord.
