“And he came to her and said, “Greetings, full of grace! The Lord is with you. But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:28-30
Think if you found a box in the attic of your parent’s home that was wrapped in soft cloth. Inside this cloth lays a beautiful box that is obviously well cared for. The box has the name of your great-great-great grandfather loving carved in its lid. You open the box to find within a newspaper clipping, an old photograph, a watch and a pair of glasses, all wrapped with care. Would you care for this box and items? Do you think the people who kept it with such care honored this person? Of course.
Now imagine you go into a house with no images of a person recently lost. Their name isn’t mentioned and nothing remains to remind you of them. Are they being honored?
God honors things and people that are important to Him. His mother is highly favored by God the Father. Jesus honored His Mother through her immaculate conception and the Holy Ghost honored her in the Annunciation and Incarnation. She is the tabernacle of the Lord. She is the first tabernacle bearing Jesus Christ to the world and she is the first and primary adorer of Jesus. She is honored by Jesus Christ, Who is the Word, by being the first to carry word of Him to the world.
There is nothing nor anyone honored more by the Trinity than our Blessed Mother. They honor her so greatly as to crown her Queen of Mercy in Heaven and endow her as Mediatrix of Graces.
In these days of Advent be sure to take extra time to honor our Holy Mother. Ponder on the Gospel stories from Luke 1:26-55, Luke 2:1-52, and Matthew 1:18-2:23. Meditate on the stories that tell of Mary and the incarnation and birth of Jesus.
Spend a few extra minutes offering up prayers in her immaculate heart. Prayers offered through Mary are highly treasured by the Immaculata and because she treasures these prayers, the Trinity does as well. The rosary is a favored prayer of course but also a simple “Hail Mary”, Hail Holy Queen, Memorare or the Flame of Love.
“Oh Blessed Lady, spread the effects of grace of thy flame of love over all humanity, Amen”