Mary, Mother of Jesus

	Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mother of God's Word   The Virgin is devoid of what the world calls happiness. When we meditate the "Magnificat," the Virgin seems to be an abyss of smallness, just a "servant." She is one of the "humble" and the "hungry." But the Lord looked at that abyss with a merciful heart—he filled her with happiness—she is "full of grace." Mary is poor. She has no resources, and sometimes she even lacks a house and furniture. She is unable to preach, but she has the most precious possession that she gives willingly to the shepherds, the Wisemen, Simeon and Anna in the Temple, and all of humanity on Golgotha. Without words, she gives them Jesus, who she alone possesses. And that gift speaks for her, since he is the "Word of God" in person.
	Cardinal François-Xavier NGUYEN VAN THUAN, Sur le chemin de l'espérance (The Road to Hope), Le Sarment, Fayard 1991