This series of ti morceaux is dealing with the Saints of the Church. We’ve looked at who the saints are, and how holy persons are recognized as saints after the die.

Now I suppose the best way to continue to explore just what sainthood is is to consider a few specific examples of this kind of holiness. And I suspect that I won’t get much argument that the first and best example of sanctity is Jesus’ own mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. In a way, since we are in the Advent season that precedes our celebration of Christ’s birth, it’s good to begin by consideration of the one who cooperated fully with God’s plan to bring that wondrous event about.

Many people are surprised that we don’t actually know a great deal about Mary and her background. Little is certain from the Bible beyond her motherhood of Jesus and a few glimpses into her later life of following her son during His adult ministry and ultimately His passion. Later Christian tradition gave us her parents’ names (Sts. Joachim and Anne). It also provides wonderful insights into her devout life as a young Jewish woman, eventually betrothed to St. Joseph and ultimately to her long years of hidden life with St. John the Evangelist between the first Pentecost and ultimately her Assumption into heaven at the end of her life on earth. Much theological reflection upon her has led to the Church’s recognition of her powerful intercessory role with God and how she remains an example of perfect discipleship, among many other insights.

Certainly the most significant day in Mary’s life (and one could also argue in the lives of us all) was the day of the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel announced to her that she had been chosen by God to be the mother of His Son (Luke 1:26-38). Her freely-given “yes” to God’s plan, despite the surprise and incomprehensibility of it all, gives us the model for our own faith: God’s knows what He’s doing even if we can’t understand it, and we will always be victorious if we but trust in Him. At that instant something wholly new and wonderful began to grow in her womb: the God-man known as Jesus, who out of love – no doubt in large measure learned from His mother – would inspire faith within us, teach us how to live, and ultimately overcame sin and even death for us.

The person of Mary and of her role deserves our highest respect and honor. Her place in heaven inspires our many prayerful requests for her spiritual aid. While we cannot worship her as if she was divine – for she is not, although she is the most perfect human being ever – our reverence and esteem for her, known formally as veneration (not adoration!), is profound. We rightly rejoice that the Catholic and Orthodox Christian Churches uniquely value her role in salvation history, and count it as a mark of true discipleship that we cultivate a living relationship still with her. She truly is most blessed, and so are we because of her.