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all the advantages a woman could hope for during
those times in my life. Mary was, among other
things, poor, a woman, single, and disadvantaged
in just about every way. And yet her response to
Elizabeth was 'My soul proclaims the greatness of
the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.¯
The heart of Mary, the strength of Mary, the good-
ness of Mary and her clear eyed vision of what was
to be; those traits are what I hope to gain when I
invoke her name in her prayer. My mother told me
during one period in my life of great despair and
fear, to 'offer it up¯. And I did. And I have. To the
Virgin Mary. And usually, in return, I get some
small return of one of those traits. And my burden
does lift. I have offered up many things to the
Blessed Mother, not the least of which has been
my thanks, since my mother gave me those brief, but powerful, words of advice.
(And yes, I have thanked my mother, too.)
So today, I say to you reading, whatever it may be, large or small, to offer it up.
Her shoulders hold the universe. She can hold your burden.
Prayer
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women, and
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners.
Now, and at the hour of our death.
_______
Erin Keating
Parishioner
