Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On August 15 th each year, the Church celebrates the feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Even churches that don’t bother much about saints recognize her for her holiness. After all, she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. Since Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God and Mary is his mother, she is the only saint above all other saints who holds that amazing honor. There are many wonderful saints who have given their lives for Christ; there are many who have poured out their lives serving people in need; there are many wise apostles, teachers and theologian saints. But there is only one Mother of Jesus.
The Church recognizes the special place that she holds as the Mother of Our Lord by additional holy days. On February 2, there is the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple by Mary and Joseph. On March 25 we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation, where the angel informs Mary that she has been chosen to bear the Messiah. On May 31, the Feast of the Visitation, we celebrate Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visiting her relative Elizabeth who is pregnant with John the Baptizer. Eventually, we come to December 25, when Mary gives birth to Jesus.
The Ven. Keith Dean-Jones from the Anglican Church of Australia comments:
Mary is important for us. …By virtue of baptism and faith we are brought into a special relationship with Mary, and as she is the mother of him who is both God and Man, so she is the mother of all who are united to him.
…She is the example for all followers of Jesus. At the Annunciation, Mary responded to God’s invitation to be mother of the Lord. She said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according to your word.” Sometimes our iconography is unhelpful, and we can get the idea that her obedience to God’s will was easy. But I do not think that was the case, and she who delighted in the baby of Bethlehem, stood at the foot of his cross on Calvary.
Just as we ask our friends and family to pray for us, we are also privileged to ask the holy people of our faith to pray for us. And who better to ask than the mother of our beloved Lord? As we remember and honor her for her obedience and faithfulness, we can pray that we, too, will become more like her, and that she will keep us in her prayers as well.
Here is the Collect for this feast day:
O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Prayers ascending for all,
Mo. Laura
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COMING UP!
- August 25-31: Mo. Laura vacation week
- September 7, 4:00: Picnic Pot Luck
- September 15: Gift card orders due
- November 15: 7:00pm Poor Man’s Gambit Concert
- November 17: ST. MARGARET’S DAY!
- Wednesdays, noonday prayer via zoom at 12:00