Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we enter the beautiful month of May we honor, most especially, the most beautiful woman who ever existed, The Blessed Virgin Mary.  She epitomizes all that is good in God’s creation because of the pure and unlimited love she has for God and for us her children.  That love is particularly evident at the Annunciation.  Presented with the awesome request from God to be the mother of the Messiah, the Son of God, her momentarily hesitation is only because of her humility and incomprehension of the Lord’s plan.  Nonetheless she says yes, “fiat”, let it be.  We see in her response the two great virtues of love and obedience.

      Very often we may think love is based on how I feel, what I want, supposing we know what is the best for oneself. Obedience to whom? to what? does not matter as long as we are obedient to our own passions and whims.  How contrary this is to the example set before us by Mary.  Her yes to God, no matter what, is the course for us to follow but so often it becomes the struggle that surges in our lives. And this is what causes our anxiety and desperation.  Her loving obedience, though sometimes put to the test: the loss of Jesus when He was 12, the vitriol heaved upon Him by the authorities and unbelievers, the Passion, and the rejection to this present day does not shake her love and obedience.  There is an old adage: “We become what our mothers make us.”  We are so privileged to call Mary our Mother because through St. John, the Lord has entrusted her to us.  We, like him, welcome Mary into our home.

    This Sunday we crown her with flowers as a sign of our love and affection.  Flowers wilt and fade but true devotion and love are lasting.  And as she has spoken to us throughout the centuries, what has she always said?  Be obedient to my Son.  Let us renew our love to Mary and heed always what she has said.

     Remember that May 9th is the Solemnity of Our Lord’s return to the Father, the Ascension, a Holy Day of Obligation.  Mass times are in the bulletin and in two weeks time we will be celebrating First Holy Communion.  Please keep our children in your prayers.

With Blessings,

Father Langan