"Mary" Christmas and Happy New Year! The Holy Spirit came to Mary, and she conceived Jesus (Lk 1:35). The Spirit cried out in her heart "Abba" (Gal 4:6; Rm 8:15). Mary became not only the mother of God but also the daughter of God the Father. She "treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart" (Lk 2:19).

When Mary saw Jesus lying in the manger, nursing at her breasts, saying His first words, taking His first steps, playing games, learning to be a carpenter from Joseph, crying, laughing, and saying His prayers, Mary saw not only Jesus but God the Father (see Jn 14:9). "Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart" (Lk 2:19).

When Mary and Joseph found the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple, He responded to their sorrow with the puzzling questions: "Why did you search for Me? Did you not know I had to be in My Father's house?" (Lk 2:49) "Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart" (Lk 2:19).

When Mary was taught by her Son to pray by calling God her "Abba" (see Mt 6:9), she addressed for the first time the all-holy God as "Dad." "Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart" (Lk 2:19).

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, she heard Jesus cry out right before He died: "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit" (Lk 23:46). "Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart" (Lk 2:19).

After Jesus' resurrection, at the first Christian Pentecost, and later, when Mary was taken to heaven and crowned queen, she knew what she had reflected on for years. She knew her Father's love.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, May 30, 2001

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 4, 2001