Daily Reflections ...

This greeting to Elizabeth was efficacious as her house was transformed by the presence of Mary, who, moved by charity, had come in haste to offer humble service and selfless love to Elizabeth.  With both her age and her pregnancy in advancing stages, Elizabeth received this visitation with great joy exclaiming, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’  She welcomed not only the comfort and practical support Mary had come to offer but also the light of Christ that Mary carried within her womb.

Just as Elizabeth was given the grace of Mary’s help in her time of need, so too the fledgling colonies of this nation yet to be named Australia, were offered her patronage under the title of, ‘Mary Help of Christians’.  This patronage was instituted by the First Provincial Synod of Australia under Archbishop John Bede Polding in Sydney in 1844.

The tradition of this feast goes back to 1571 when Christendom was saved in the great battle of Lepanto.  Australians today can be thankful that the first Synod had the faith and foresight to recognise that Mary’s powerful intercession and the example of her life would protect and bless all people who seek shelter in this ancient land.  May we too be transformed and filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit through her patronage.

With the words of today’s Collect, we pray:

‘O God, who chose the Virgin Mary to be the Mother of your only begotten Son, the light of the world, grant through her intercession, that the radiance of Christ may shine over this land, guiding us in the way of justice and love.’

By Margaret O’Shea