Mary our hope and helper along the way

During Novitiate we learned an Italian hymn that we would sing in the evening at the end of Night Prayer: “O Maria, nostra Speranza”

O Maria nostra speranza deh, ci assisti e pensa a noi; deh, proteggi i figli tuoi, col favor di tua possanza.

Cara Madre e gran Regina volgi a noi gli occhi pietosi, senza Te siam timorosi con Te pieni di fidanza. O Maria, O Maria, nostra speranza.

O Mary our hope, O help us and care for us, O protect your children with the grace of your power.

Dear Mother and great Queen, turn your compassionate eyes towards us, without You we are afraid, with You we are confident. O Mary, O Mary, our hope.

The month of October is traditionally dedicated to the Rosary of Our Lady, an invitation to contemplate the life of Christ, His glories, His sorrows, His light and His joys, through the eyes of Mary. As sons and daughters of St. Joseph, we well know the beauty, wonder and power of this woman who is Mother of the Incarnate Son of God, and by Christ’s own will, Mother to us all. Joseph surely could but stand in loving awe of this woman, called by God to be his spouse, to live side by side with her, endure with her, grow with her, walk with Jesus with her. With Joseph we can look to her as the unfailing star that guides our lives, the heart filled with grace, the unshakeable believer whose trust in God’s designs is absolute. Alongside Joseph, we turn to her for wisdom, courage, strength, and ultimately – hope.

Mary, without sin and full of grace was in a unique position to be able to welcome the singular intervention of God into this world that is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born in the flesh. Mary’s own heart continued to grow, deepen and be enriched as she embraced the will of the Father, the work of the Spirit, and the presence of the Son. She walked deliberately and fully aware, in faith, adhering to the God who called to her in her heart, the God who spoke to her in the voice of her Son. Mary gave herself to the following of Him who is everything, absorbing His words, rejoicing in His miracles, embracing His disciples, sharing in His Passion, being transformed by His Resurrection and Ascension, and being lifted up to Heaven by the Spirit.

As followers of St. Joseph, Mary is absolutely special to us, and we to her. She also seeks to provide us with wisdom, courage, strength and hope. Especially hope. As one who saw, believed, experienced and lived the reality of the Son of God, Mary never knew discouragement, never faltered in love, never gave in to darkness, but persevered in difficulty, without fear, never doubting in the ultimate triumph of her Son.

We who are so often challenged by the world in which we live, the demands of our calling, the depths of our weakness, the loftiness of our heavenly goals – we need hope! When our light dims, our strength diminishes, our journey wavers, like Joseph, we turn to Mary. She never fails! She never gives up! She always keeps faith, always finds light, always leads to paths of joy.

• Points to Ponder

• What is our relationship to Mary? How close do we feel to her? How often do weturn to her? How frequently do we contemplate her? How well do we trust her?

• Do we recognize Mary as our spiritual mother, the path to Jesus, our companionour our journey of holiness?

• Like St. Joseph, do we seek to be close to her? Are we praying the Rosary daily?Remembering to celebrate her Feasts? Do we have a personal image of Mary thatwe venerate?

• Do we introduce others to Mary? Do we speak of her with conviction, knowledge,and feeling? Can we recognize graces she has obtained for us and others? Have wefound inspiration in her?