Episode 2561: Behold, your mother - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received
from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have
committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed
Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear
Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor
sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”

Loving in God and Embracing Mary as Our Mother

Welcome to today’s episode, where we will explore the profound connection between loving all in God and the unique role of Mary as our Mother and model of discipleship. St. Théodore Guérin, a beloved saint of the Church, teaches us, “Love all in God and for God, and all will be well.” These simple yet profound words encapsulate the heart of Christian living—loving everyone and everything through the lens of God’s love, trusting that when our hearts are aligned with His will, all things will fall into place.

Today, we will also reflect on the words of Edward Looney, who beautifully expresses Mary’s role as the Mother of Disciples. Mary, the first and perfect disciple of Jesus, is also our mother. At the foot of the Cross, Jesus entrusted her to each of us when He told John, “Behold, your mother.” Our devotion to Mary is an integral part of our relationship with Christ, for she leads us closer to her Son.

We’ll meditate on these truths and their significance in our journey of faith, trusting that by loving in God and embracing Mary as our mother, we will be guided in our Christian walk.

Let’s begin with the words of St. Théodore Guérin, “Love all in God and for God, and all will be well.” In our world today, love is often reduced to sentimentality or fleeting emotions, but the love that St. Théodore speaks of is a love rooted in God. It’s the kind of love that seeks God’s will above all else and loves others through the lens of His divine plan.

When we love in God and for God, our relationships and actions take on a new depth. This love is not based on whether someone deserves it or whether it benefits us. It is a selfless love, modeled after Christ’s sacrificial love for us on the Cross. When we truly love in God, our love becomes transformative not just for those we love, but for ourselves as well. We begin to see others as God sees them, with all their dignity and worth, regardless of their flaws or shortcomings.

But how do we grow in this kind of love? How do we sustain it, especially in a world that often pulls us toward selfishness or division? Here, Mary comes to our aid.

Edward Looney reminds us of the special role Mary plays in our lives as the Mother of Disciples. She is not just the Mother of Jesus, but our mother too, given to us by Christ Himself. At the foot of the Cross, when Jesus told John, “Behold, your mother” (John 19:27), He entrusted Mary to all of us. And from that moment on, Mary has been our spiritual mother, guiding us, protecting us, and leading us closer to her Son.

Mary’s role as the first disciple is a profound one. From the moment of the Annunciation, when she gave her fiat her "yes" to God’s will she modeled perfect obedience and trust in God. She didn’t fully understand what God had planned for her, but she trusted Him completely. Throughout her life, from the joys of Jesus’ birth to the sorrows of standing beneath His Cross, Mary’s heart remained steadfastly united to God’s will.

Our devotion to Mary, then, is not a distraction from Christ but a pathway to Him. As Looney points out, we can never love Mary more than Jesus did. By loving her, we honor the will of Jesus, who desires that we turn to His mother as our own. And in loving her, we learn from her how to be better disciples how to say “yes” to God in our own lives, how to love with a pure and selfless heart, and how to trust in God’s plan even when we don’t understand it.

In the same way that Mary nurtured Jesus, she nurtures our souls. She brings us closer to Him, guiding us with a mother’s love. And just as she cared for Jesus’ needs, she intercedes for us, bringing our needs to her Son. In Mary, we find a sure and faithful guide in our journey of discipleship.

Practical Application:

Entrust Your Day to Mary:
Begin each day by asking Mary for her intercession. Whether through the Hail Mary or another Marian prayer, entrust your day, your challenges, and your joys to her, asking her to help you live in obedience to God’s will as she did.

Practice Love Rooted in God:
Throughout the day, ask yourself, “Am I loving in God and for God?” Whether you are interacting with family, friends, or strangers, make a conscious effort to love as God loves with patience, kindness, and selflessness. When faced with difficulties, turn to Mary, asking her to help you love as she loves.

Reflect on Mary’s Fiat:
Spend time meditating on the Annunciation, where Mary gave her fiat her “yes” to God. Consider how you can say “yes” to God in your own life. What areas of your life do you need to surrender more fully to Him? Ask Mary for the grace to trust God completely, just as she did.

Conclusion:

As we conclude today’s reflection, we are reminded of the central message of loving all in God and for God, as St. Théodore Guérin so wisely advises. This love, when lived out authentically, leads us on the path to holiness and peace. It allows us to see others through God’s eyes and to trust that, no matter the difficulties we face, all will be well when we place our lives in God’s hands.

And in this journey of love, we are not alone. We have a heavenly mother in Mary, who walks with us, guiding us as we strive to follow Christ. As the first disciple of her Son, she teaches us what it means to love, to trust, and to surrender to God’s will. Let us, like John at the foot of the Cross, take her into our hearts and homes, knowing that her maternal care will always lead us closer to Jesus.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of Your love, and we ask for the grace to love all in You and for You, trusting that in Your divine plan, all things will be well. Help us to follow the example of Mary, the first disciple, as we strive to live in obedience to Your will. May we always turn to her for guidance and protection, knowing that she brings us closer to You. Through her intercession, may we grow in love, faith, and trust, and may we always seek to do Your will.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thank you for joining us today. May the love of God and the maternal care of Mary accompany you throughout your day. God bless you.