How to be Marian in our Daily Lives
As we celebrate the month of Mary, Dr. Josephine Lombardi, Academic Dean of St. Augustine’s Seminary and Associate Professor of Systemic and Pastoral Theology, reflects on ways that we can all be Marian Successors – one who stands in for Mary; someone who, like Mary, is inspired by the Holy Spirit to love and to reason without fear.
1. Grace through Faith
Grace is a theological virtue, an infused virtue. It is the habit of knowing, believing and trusting God. We can only do this when we are strengthened by his power. To become a Marian Successor, we must admit we need help. Have you asked God to strengthen you on your journey? Have you asked God to assist you?
2. Courage
We need courage because we have fear – but we must remember that perfect love casts out fear. Perfect love is free of sinful anger and jealousy. We need love in order to be courageous, and God is love. Courage is the habit of resisting the temptation to be afraid. Of course, there’s real fears and perceived fears – when we are worried and anxious, we don’t understand an outcome. Fear convinces us of a negative outcome. Worry can’t make something happen and it can’t prevent something from happening. This is why in Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, he reminds us that worry is useless. This is why courage is so very important.
3. Obedience
We must be humble and obedient before we’re admitted into the higher mysteries. Early Church fathers spoke of lower mysteries and higher mysteries, and how our ability to reason gives us access to certain truths, but faith gives us access to the mysteries of our faith. This is why so many holy men and women have been blessed with private revelations – beautiful insights helping them to understand the mysteries of our faith.
4. Humility
Humility is the habit of knowing the truth about ourselves. It’s the habit of being grounded. It’s the habit of service to others. So many studies on service to others show how it helps our mood, how it’s good for us to continue to love and to serve. Mother Teresa once said, “If you know who you are, nothing can touch you.” When it was public that Mary was pregnant and gossip may have been circulating – and Joseph may have been doubting her – she knew who she was, a daughter of the Most High. She wasn’t going to let the opinions of others define her. That’s humility. Do you believe you are a cherished daughter (or son) of the Most High? Always, focus on your higher self, and who you can become.
To watch Dr. Lombardi’s full presentation on how to be Marian in our day-to-day life, please click here. The above is a summary compiled by the Office of Public Relations and Communications.
