Imitate Mary

Every January 1st the Church celebrates World Day of Peace. This celebration was initiated by St. John Paul II. His purpose was to start the New Year in an appropriate way by him issuing a papal exhortation focused on values, issues, and concerns grounded on Christian Teaching that could promote peaceful relationships among individuals and communities around the world. At the end of his reflection he would always invite us all to imitate Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Queen of Peace.

Why is Mary called The Queen of Peace? Our ready answer is, she had to be the Mother of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Our Lord and Savior. Jesus the Christ is a person of peace because there is no moral disorder, called sin, in him as man. For peace comes from, or the result of, order.

In Mary there is no moral disorder either. She was made that way because of the power her Son. This is why we call her Immaculate Conception. So we pray, “Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.”

May we say this prayer to her every day of this New Year 2017 hoping that there will be true moral order within our inner selves and with others, as well.