Homily on Mary Our Mother

Visit Homily on Mary Our Mother for the full homily by Saint Aelred, abbot.

Saint Aelred underlines in his homily how Mary acts as the "perfect handmaid" and mother of our Lord, and how it falls into our duty to honor her and love her. Saint Aelred also refers to Scripture in his homily: "Honor you father and your mother." Certainly the Mother of our Lord should be honored and loved.

Sculpture of Saint Aelred, abbot

Christ is the son of Mary

"Once we all lay in death, as you know and believe, in sin, in darkness, in misery. In death, because we had lost the Lord; in sin, because of our corruption; in darkness, for we were without the light of wisdom, and thus had perished utterly." -Saint Aelred

Mary is blessed, because Christ was born of her. And "We are fortunate", said Aelred, because we are "given new life in place of our sin."

The Mother of Our Wisdom and Justice

Saint Aelred concludes his homily with emphasizing that "Mary is the mother of our wisdom and justice", and of "holiness and redemption". Because from her was born our Lord who provides us with eternal salvation.

Mary the perfect handmaid of the Lord

"Praise the Lord in his holy ones", say the Scriptures. If our Lord is to be praised in those holy ones through whom he brings to being deeds of power and miracles, how much more is he to be praised in her in whom he fashioned himself, who is wonderful beyond all wonders.