The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

"The Feast which we celebrate today is an invitation to the hidden life, to hide ourselves with Mary in Christ, and with Christ in God. Many times it is God Himself who, through circumstances or the decisions of our superiors, makes us live in obscurity. We should be very grateful for this, and take advantage of these opportunities to make more progress in the practice of humility and self-effacement. At other times, however, God gives us responsibilities, offices, apostolic works which bring us into prominence, but even in such circumstances we should try to efface ourselves as much as possible. Certainly we must not refuse the assignment, but we should know how to withdraw as soon as our activity is no longer needed for the success of the work entrusted to us. All the rest -- praise, applause, the account of our success or the excuse for our failure -- should not concern us. In the face of all this we should strive to remain wholly indifferent. An interior soul should long to hide itself as much as it can under the shadow of God, for, if it has been able to accomplish some little good, it is convinced that in reality all has been the work of God; therefore, it eagerly seeks that all may redound to His glory alone.

"Let Mary's humble, hidden life be the model of ours, and if, in emulating Her, we have to struggle against our ever-recurrent tendencies to pride, let us confidently seek her maternal aid, and She will help us to triumph over all vainglory."

~Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene, O.C.D., Divine Intimacy

Dear Mary -- our life, our sweetness, and our hope! -- teach me to love a life hidden with you and your Son in God our Father. Amen.