Mary, During the Months of Her Pregnancy

In order to know something about Mary’s feelings during her months of gestation, let us place ourselves in analogous situations. If today we question a woman who is expecting a child concerning the thoughts that she is presently experiencing, and this woman is a very faithful and spiritual person, she would probably not know what to answer... It’s no wonder. It’s so unfathomable what is happening here! Finally, with difficulty she will speak, but with halting words, I don’t know how to express it, but she will come to express thoughts of an awesome world, a world that is born and passes on within her own maternity.

How can we describe the psychic and spiritual stature of Mary during these days of gestation? See how Mary held herself in control, and capable of an exceptional capacity of interior reflection during the Annunciation. She does this so well, far exceeding what would be expected of some one of her age.

If we are to measure her spiritual stature by the contents of the Magnificat, we will verify that when it is a question of dealing with the mystery of her Lord and Savior, Mary is passionate and joyful, in spite of the fact that she is generally reserved and silent.

She knows the history of Israel and is fully conscious of the significance of the Incarnation. Besides, she is sinless, full of grace, inhabited by the substantial presence of the Word and impacted by the direct action of the Holy Spirit.

Such is the character of this special person who is going to live such a unique experience.

With difficulty will the mind conceive, or the tongue express, or the most penetrating intuition guess, what was the amplitude and profundity of the divine life that Our Mother lived during this period.

Mary’s interior life had to be powerfully enriched during these nine months in the physical, psychical and spiritual order.

That must have been something unique and unimaginable.

Extracted from the book “The Silence of Mary” by Father Ignacio Larrañaga