Question of the Week, August 15, 2020, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Year A
Over the past forty years, I’ve had the opportunity to travel the country to lead retreats, workshops, and parish missions. Because the Church and the world are ever-changing, ever-growing, and ever-evolving—and because I am (hopefully!) too—I never give the same presentation twice. What I learn, what I read, what I experience, and the insights that come in prayer and silence are always bringing new understandings that I love to share and explore with others.
But one retreat plan has remained a constant over the last several years. I call it “The Spirituality of Joy.” The plan came together as the result of reading James Martin’s Between Heaven and Mirth, and from the comments of two coworkers. One said to me, “It is so good to see someone who really enjoys her work.” The other prayed, “Lord, thank you for Mary, who brings such joy to our workplace.” The book and the comments made me pause and think about joy, or the lack thereof, in the lives of those around me.
We’ve come through some difficult and challenging months as individuals and as a country. But today, Mary’s words of rejoicing in the beautiful Magnificat (see Luke 1:46-55) remind us that God still reigns and that we still have many reasons to rejoice.
In the spirit of the Magnificat, take some time today to follow a suggestion made by James Martin in Between Heaven and Mirth. Identify your sources of joy, past and present—individuals, experiences, opportunities for growth, religious things, small everyday blessings, things you take for granted, and things that make you laugh.
What might you need to rekindle in order to join Mary in full-heartedly proclaiming, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior”?
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years’ experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on the topics of prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. In addition, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.Product Recommendation
Our Family Devotions
This book celebrates the many ways people of different cultures express the Catholic faith in their churches, neighborhoods, and homes. As the Good News of Jesus spread around the world, people in every culture found special ways to express their faith in God. Through the ritual words and gestures of popular devotions, Catholics show their love for God and devotion to Mary and the saints.
Some popular devotions begin with a message that is given to a person and then shared with others. Many traditions grow from the blending of the Catholic faith with a cultural celebration. Although the prayers and rituals may be adapted to meet the spiritual needs of a culture, all popular devotions are intended to help people recognize God’s love for them and grow in their love for God.
It is our prayer that through this book your family will experience God in new ways in your everyday lives. May the diverse and rich traditions of families and the Church from around the world lead you to find new ways of living out your faith. May the beauty of these devotions remind us that we are one family in Jesus Christ, sharing God’s love in our homes, churches, and communities.