Do not be afraid, Mary...

Mary, full of grace, mother of God,

mother of the Church,

model of faithful discipleship,

 

Tell me, please:

after the angel said

"do not be afraid,"

did you stop being afraid?

Or were you trembling long after

you spoke your answer

and the angel departed from you?

 

Throughout all the fearful events that followed,

did Gabriel return from time to time

to say again, "do not be afraid,"

or were you on your own, clinging to God's promise

with only Joseph to support you as best he could?

 

I ask, Mary, because I am often afraid,

And I see such fear in the human race.

We often try to hide it,

but it comes out in many ugly ways.

 

Mary, you knew fear.

Help me-and all the people of the world-

to face our fears.

Help us remember that God has promised

to be with us too,

and that, through Jesus,

we have all found favor with God.

 

I do not expect a visit from Gabriel,

But I would be very grateful if you

would lean close to us from time to time

and whisper softly into our hearts:

"do not be afraid."

Amen

St. Louis de Montfort

www.livingwithchrist.us.