Sister Elizabeth Obbard tells a lovely story about Pope John XXIII in her book A Year with Mary: Prayers and Readings for Marian Feasts and Festivals. Cardinal Roncalli, as he was then, was celebrating Benediction in his cathedral. He thought the service was over when the choir suddenly burst into a haunting, oriental hymn. The Cardinal, a bit confused, turned to an attendant canon and asked, "What now?" The canon pointed to the icon of Mary and said, "Let us go, your Eminence, to congratulate Our Lady on her Son’s resurrection."
When I first read this many few years ago, the idea of congratulating Our Lady struck me as a little bit absurd. Now that I've become older and simpler, it makes perfect sense to me. After all, to congratulate someone is not only to acknowledge their achievement or good fortune, it's also to rejoice with them. And who better deserves my congratulations than the Mother of Christ at the dawn of her Son's resurrection?!
When I first read this many few years ago, the idea of congratulating Our Lady struck me as a little bit absurd. Now that I've become older and simpler, it makes perfect sense to me. After all, to congratulate someone is not only to acknowledge their achievement or good fortune, it's also to rejoice with them. And who better deserves my congratulations than the Mother of Christ at the dawn of her Son's resurrection?!
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Ps 30:5). Dear Mary, Mother of our Risen Savior, joy has indeed come with the resurrection of your Son from the dead. Congratulations! With you I rejoice and am glad. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
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