Modeling Mary: Our Pilgrimage of Faith

Blessed Among Women

With a new sense of mission, Mary hastens through the hill country to Ein Karem to share her joyful, near-incredible news with Elizabeth and Zachary. Filled with the spirit of prophecy, Elizabeth first greeted Mary by acknowledging the great blessing that made her unique: Mary, the “mother of my Lord,” and truly “most blessed are you among women.” Elizabeth then proclaimed, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Lk 1:42–45).

Mary responded with her great canticle of joy, the Magnificat, voicing love and gratitude for the great things the Lord accomplishes in every age. In praising God for looking upon the “handmaid’s lowliness,” she again identifies herself with the humble and poor awaiting God’s redemption. Her song weaves together the themes from the psalms that describe the Lord’s power to overturn and reverse the present situation and create a new order. Her song concludes in praise of God for his mercy to Israel and his fidelity and promise to Abraham. (See Lk 1:46–55.)
Shaped in the Ordinary

But after these joyful and Spirit-filled scenes, the gospels record no out-of-the-ordinary revelations to Mary. When the time came for Mary to give birth, she and Joseph were not able even to find a comfortable place to bring Jesus into the world. The news of the birth of this child was revealed to shepherds from the hill country and to some wise men from the East.

Following the star, the Magi came in search of the one whom they identified as the “king of the Jews” (Mt 2:2), and when they saw the child with Mary his mother, “they prostrated themselves and did him homage” (Mt 2:11). The shepherds recounted what the angels had told them about the birth of this child who would bring a time of peace in the world. According to the gospel, all who heard the shepherds’ pronouncement “were amazed,” including Mary, who “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” (Lk 2:18–19).