Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
She is perfect, of course, born without the taint of original sin. But she need not be some distant, unreachable figure, some 
beautiful woman on an icon. Mary is real.
Mary is real in the example of surrender she sets for us. Nearly a child herself, she gives her fiat to God’s plan, and has the wisdom to give honor to Him, and know that this is all about Him, not about the gossip and ridicule to which she will be subjected.
Mary is real in the example of faithfulness she sets for us. She soldiers on, despite what she hears from Simeon at the Presentation, despite her Son’s protest at Cana that it’s not time.
Mary is real in the example of fearlessness she sets for us. She sets aside her own agony and sorrow to be present to her beloved son at the Crucifixion, because she knew this is all about Him, not about her.
Mary is real in her Canticle, thanking the Lord for looking upon her with favor and proclaiming His greatness. In her examples of surrender, faithfulness, and fearlessness, may we be guided to find and live our own Canticle.
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