About our Lady the Virgin #Mary: “All Generations Will Call Me #Blessed” Luke 1:48
In the heart of the Christian faith, a singular statement made by the Virgin Mary in Luke 1:48 holds tremendous theological, spiritual, and existential importance: “All generations will call me blessed.” This verse, part of her song of praise known as the Magnificat, is more than a simple prophecy. It is a proclamation of the divine mystery of God's work in the world, embodied through Mary, and it reverberates through the centuries in the life of the Church. To understand the depth of this verse is to grasp the broader context of how the Church honors Mary, her unique role in salvation history, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in this divine recognition.
Praise That Transcends Human Reason
First and foremost, the praise offered to the Virgin Mary is not merely a matter of human initiative. It is not simply an intellectual recognition or the result of scholarly study. Rather, as St. Paul writes in Romans 8:4, it is impossible to truly live or act in the will of God without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is the foundational truth for understanding the reverence given to Mary throughout the ages. The honor bestowed upon her is rooted in the divine work of the Holy Spirit, which transcends the limits of human intellect or comprehension. Without the Holy Spirit’s grace, it would be impossible for the Church—or for any individual—to properly acknowledge her role or offer true praise.
Thus, any attempt to honor Mary without recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit would fall short. This explains why those who clamor for Mary's intercession, without comprehending this divine mystery, fail to grasp the true nature of her praise. They lack the understanding that comes through the Spirit. As the text states, "they do not understand the work of the Holy Spirit that is beyond the mind and that they are not children of God." This reveals that to honor Mary rightly is to participate in the very life of God, through the guidance of the Spirit.
Testimonies of Divine Praise: Gabriel and Elizabeth
The Scriptures themselves bear witness to this divine orchestration of Mary's praise. The Holy Spirit moves through both the angelic and human realms to reveal Mary’s blessedness. First, we see the testimony of the Archangel Gabriel, who is sent from God with the express purpose of announcing her grace. In Luke 1:28, Gabriel proclaims her purity and the favor bestowed upon her: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” The angel’s words are not mere pleasantries; they are a heavenly pronouncement of her blessed state, confirming that the praise of Mary originates in heaven, from the very throne of God.
Equally important is the testimony of St. Elizabeth, who, filled with the Holy Spirit, echoes this divine revelation. When she greets Mary, her unborn child—John the Baptist—leaps in her womb, and Elizabeth, moved by the Spirit, proclaims: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:42). This spontaneous, Spirit-led praise from Elizabeth affirms the divine source of Mary’s blessedness. Even the unborn John the Baptist, in his mother’s womb, participates in this recognition, leaping for joy in the presence of the Incarnate Word and His holy mother. The leaping of the unborn child and the praise of Elizabeth are, therefore, more evidence that the praise of Mary is initiated by God, through His Spirit, not merely by human initiative.
A Universal and Timeless Blessedness
Mary’s statement, “All generations will call me blessed,” (Luke 1:48) speaks not only to her role in her immediate context but also to the universal and timeless nature of her blessedness. The text interprets this as a prophetic declaration, extending her honor across all peoples and times—"the generation of Shem, the generation of Yapheth, and the generation of Ham." This reflects the Church's understanding that Mary's role transcends ethnic, cultural, and temporal boundaries.
About #Repentance: The Turning Back to God
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, let us gather our hearts and minds to reflect on the sacred path of redemption. The journey out of evil and into the grace of God is not simply a turning away from what is wicked but a striving toward what is good, holy, and life-giving. This is the journey to which we are all called, and in this calling, we must heed the wise counsel that has been handed down through the saints and prophets. Our actions, our desires, and our very being must be transformed, and this transformation begins with the taming of the senses, the practice of virtue, continual prayer, and sincere repentance.
Controlling the Senses: The Gateway to the Soul
The senses are the windows through which the world enters our hearts. If we do not control them, they will control us, drawing us into the depths of sin by inflaming our lusts and desires. As St. Jared teaches, we must be vigilant. It is not enough to simply resist sin; we must prevent its very seed from taking root in our hearts. Our eyes must be guarded so that they do not behold evil, our tongues must be restrained from speaking wickedness, and our ears must be shielded from hearing what is corrupt.
This vigilance over the senses is essential because the eyes, ears, and tongue are the entry points for temptation. If we allow our senses to feast on evil, even in small measures, we are nurturing the growth of sin within us. Our eyes are easily drawn to the vanities of this world, yet the scriptures remind us that we must fix our gaze upon heaven. Our ears are prone to gossip and slander, but we must choose to listen to the Word of God. And our tongues, which can be swift to anger or pride, must instead become instruments of blessing. Only by mastering the senses can we avoid being dragged into the snares of the evil one.
Doing What is Good: Fleeing from Evil is Not Enough
To truly turn from the path of sin, it is not enough to merely avoid what is wicked; we must actively pursue what is good. The prophet David, in his psalms, calls us to "flee from evil and do good" (Psalm 33:14). This echoes throughout the Scriptures and is central to the Christian life. It is not a passive avoidance of sin but an active, intentional pursuit of righteousness.
St. Paul, the apostle, exhorts us to understand that while all things may be permissible, not all things are beneficial (1 Corinthians 6:12). Here, we are reminded that the Christian life is not about finding the bare minimum of what we can get away with but about striving for what is best for our soul's salvation. The true Christian seeks not only to avoid sin but to embrace virtue, to cultivate love, kindness, patience, and humility. In this way, we are not merely avoiding evil; we are actively building up the Kingdom of God within us and around us.
Asking God in Prayer: The Lifeline of the Soul
Prayer is the lifeline of the Christian soul. Without it, we are like ships adrift on a stormy sea, tossed by every wind of temptation and desire. As the prophet David cries out, "May your mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we trust in you" (Psalm 33:22), so must we continually call upon God for His mercy and guidance. We cannot hope to walk the narrow path of righteousness through our own strength. It is God who sustains us, who gives us the grace to turn away from evil and to embrace what is good.
Prayer must be the constant posture of our hearts, not just in moments of need, but in all seasons of life. It is through prayer that we learn to trust in God's providence and mercy, and it is through prayer that we are given the strength to resist the temptations that so easily ensnare us. When we approach God in humility, acknowledging our weakness, He is faithful to lift us up and lead us in the way of repentance.