The Blessing of Poverty in the Virgin Mary’s life experience...

It is impossible to understand the outburst of happiness which sprang from Jesus’ lips when proclaiming the blessing of evangelical poverty, without linking it with another outburst of happiness which came from Mary’s lips during her ‘Magnificat’ when she sang that she was full of joy in God her Saviour because he has looked upon the poverty of his servant.

The soul of an Israelite is desirous one, desired insatiably to infinity. Mary’s characteristic hope is what she desires and calls a richness which will more than fulfil all possible forms of poverty! “The poor man calls, as is so often said in the psalms, and God responds!” The response is in proportion to the call. The fulfilment takes the form of the cross which offers itself to be filled. That is just like Mary’s heart, “Oh Lord, You have made me insatiable because you are inexhaustible!”. The desirous quality this daughter of Israel possesses is because she is “poor,” by that we mean hollow, in the same way as He who made her so that he could try to fill her with Him. That is the secret of the one we call immaculate, Mary’s heart, the infinite or almost infinite desire of the Messiah of God. She truly was more than a daughter of Abraham

Far from misjudging herself with false protestations of humility, this daughter of Israel knows that she is of great value in the eyes of God because she desires him completely and forever. It is true that the real beauty and benevolence of a blossoming life can only be revealed by those who experience generosity and dreams and ideas of this quality. In the same way, dreams and incredible desire can only grow within our hearts if they are inspired by the Lord who gives us the ability to dream. All saints have experienced it in this same way.

However, Mary already had, deep within her core, her immense desire for God, a treasure which none of the wealthy social, political or religious people around her possessed. Her hands were full, while theirs were empty. The expression ‘The Kingdom of Heaven” means that God reigns over her and that she reigns over God. The King and Queen have found each other. They are united by an audacious shared life. The most ardent pages of declarations of love in ‘The Song of Songs’ are sung in his heart… “Rejoice, my beautiful one, the Lord is with you!” This profound exchange does not relieve Mary of the daily battle of existence. She would know how to speak to Bernadette and make her feel what is good and happy in this ‘other’ world. The little girl from Lourdes was also a ‘poor person of God.’ She had a desirous soul and she was visited.

When Mary looks within herself and listens to what is bubbling up from inside her- which is not from her as the source is not her own – she discovers that Someone is watching over her and driving her existence. Someone who is completely about generosity in its place, who gives her the gift of living, he shares himself with her. She does not know him at first but she starts to get to know herself. She says “It’s me!” She is poor, incapable of giving anything herself, but she can offer her body and all of her being. She is made with a richness like no other. The tears which spring to her eyes. This invisible face within her which looks on and gives her life, she feels her heart say ‘thank you’ and beating hard at this meeting, within her! She would like to return the breath of life to Him which he breathes within her…

“My soul exalts the Lord, my breath is full of joy…as he has looked upon the poverty of his servant…”

Mary cannot really know God except for through her own-self, and His actions in making her exist for who she is! She feels herself as an intelligent, free, sensitive, clear, pure, joyous, courageous person. I like dreaming, that Mary, without false humility or modesty, liked to make an inventory the splendours of life that her Creator gifted to her.

According to Father Laberthonnière, “By looking within ourselves, into our interior beings we can find the path which leads us to God.”

If Mary has a representation of God, then it is because she is informed by the masterpiece that she is made by Him. Everything she saw come to pass, how could she not feel that He modelled her on Himself and supported her in doing so! She was launched into being by her own Creator whilst still in the throes of being made. She owes everything to Him. Especially her most precious assets, her liberty, her personality, her autonomy, her vitality, her ability to govern her own will…If, because it was impossible, the Love which created her, turned away from her, we would just see her as a poor abandoned little girl or she would have suddenly disappeared into nothingness. There is no danger of that happening. Has the sun ever forgotten to send out its rays?  … Mary hears anew the words of the prophet Isaiah.

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49.15)

Mary, Poor of God, it is not the richness of your regard, of your emotions, of your knowledge and your efforts and struggles, even your suffering! I honestly feel that I will never stop reading the psalms or the Book of Wisdom in order to enrich myself with your poverty, Mary, who knows God, who is with you, and you are walking with Him as dusk comes in, in an immense garden that you will one day inherit from him!

Florin Callerand, January 14, 1991
in "Mary, my secret" p.57... 83

French to English translation by Debbie Garrick and Cécile Simon