Mary: Our Mother and Seat of Wisdom

In this repeat visit to the podcast, Heidi Hess Saxton tells how as a Catholic convert she came to know Mary as a mother and as “Seat of Wisdom” and reflects on Mary’s role in raising Jesus as he grew in wisdom and stature in her home.  She also shares how Mary has helped her as a mother—and how her own mother came to know Mary—and what that did for their relationship.

Heidi Hess Saxton is senior acquisitions editor at Ave Maria Press and was senior project editor for the Living the Word Catholic Women’s Bible, to which she contributed a number of reflections including an essay on “Mary, Queen and Mother.”  The author of seven books, she blogs about Catholic family life at Life on the Road Less Traveled and for adoptive, foster, and special needs families at The Extraordinary Moms Network.

Take Heidi’s favorite Scripture, Mary’s Magnificat, to your next Holy Hour

Pray: Come, Holy Spirit, open my heart and mind to hear your word today. 

Read the Word: Luke 1:46–55   

(Read it in your own Bible to get the context, and so you can make notes.)

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity forever.”

Ponder the Word: Read several times, lingering where it touches your heart. What catches your attention? What do you hear the Lord saying to you? 

Pray with the Word: Bring to the Lord what you have heard, and talk to him about it. Ask for his grace. Thank him for his loving care. 

Live the Word: How does what you read touch your life? What can you do this week to put it into practice?