in peace.’” — Luke 7:50
Almost everyone is moved by the powerful image of Michelangelo’s Pietà, in which Mary cradles the lifeless body of Jesus after the Crucifixion.
But recently, I came upon another Pietà statue in which Mary’s posture was uniquely different. Instead of wrapping her arms around Jesus, Mary’s arms are extended outward. The palms of her hands are facing upward in a posture that expresses her complete openness to the will of God.
Grief is a fact of life. Loss can come when we least expect it. Like Mary, we can cradle the memories of more peaceful times. But Mary’s life can also inspire us to extend our arms and hearts to accept God’s will and allow his grace to bring us to a new place of peace.
— Chris Hannigan-Wiehn
IS THERE A LOSS in your life that causes you to long for peaceful times gone by? Can you cradle those memories in your heart and open yourself to God’s gift of peace?
Prayer: Mary, Queen of Peace, sit with me today as I extend my arms and open my hands to God asking for the healing peace of his divine love.
January 18
“For everything there is a season; and a time for every matter under the heavens: / A time to love, and a time to hate; / a time for war, and a time for peace.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1,8
As the mother of Jesus, Mary experienced the full range of human life. She felt love in her family; she witnessed acts of hatred, too, some directed toward her Son. Similarly, we witness acts of rejection and selfishness even among families and friends. We see violence in neighborhoods, sports arenas, workplaces, all around the world.
Through it all, Mary was able to keep peace in her heart, and we can, too. Mary’s life invites us to seek the Lord’s abiding peace, especially in times of trouble. Praying the Rosary is a favorite spiritual practice for many. The Rosary can be a powerful weapon of prayer, one that enables us to meditate with Mary and Jesus on the mysteries they shared in life.
— Mary Beth Desmond
THINK OF A TIME when you truly felt loved and at peace. Recall an experience of feeling rejection or opposition in your personal or professional life. Pray a Rosary, or part of the Rosary, and bring those times to God.
Prayer: Mary, pray that the Rosary may become a weapon of choice for me, to find peace and bring peace to the world.
January 19
“Let him turn away from evil and do right; / let him seek peace and pursue it.” — 1 Peter 3:11
It is easy to give into what looks glamorous and popular, but these passing elements will not bring us everlasting peace. The apostle Peter warns us about giving into evil ways and tells us that peace is something we must seek and pursue. We must actively look for where God plants seeds of peace and then be on watch for where it grows and spreads.
Our Blessed Mother is here to help us to do just that. We are given daily opportunities to turn away from evil and to do good, but we sometimes fail in that task. The next time you have a choice to make, turn to Mary for the inspiration and guidance to lead you away from evil and seek peace.
— Gina Sannasardo
WHAT PREVENTS YOU from being a peacemaker in this world? Invite Mary to help you to notice where peace can grow today.
Prayer: Mary, as the mother of Jesus and our spiritual mother, be with us as we wrestle to do what is right, and help us to seek and pursue peace in our lives.
January 20
“Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, / but those who plan good have joy.” — Proverbs 12:20
God’s word teaches us that deceitful hearts seek revenge and harbor maliciousness. In contrast, the Scriptures also assure us that those who spread peace will have joy, both now and for eternity.
As the mother of Jesus, Mary knew how deceitful the human heart could be. But through her own commitment to God’s peace, Mary found deep joy, an attractive and genuine joy that radiated warmth for all. Our Blessed Mother waits for us to seek the peace that only her Son can bring. When we do, we, too, will find unexpected joy.
— Gina Sannasardo
CONSIDER THE OPPORTUNITIES in your life in which you can promote peace in the face of dissension or bitterness. Invite Mary to walk with you today, and to help you discover joy.
Prayer: Blessed Mother, come to our aide and be present with us as we stand against the deceit that tries to enter our hearts. Help us to live as sons and daughter of the Lord, that we may choose peace and find joy every day of our lives.
January 21
“For you shall go out in joy, / and be led forth in peace; / the mountains and the hills before you / shall break forth into singing / and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” — Isaiah 55:12
After my husband and I became empty nesters, we were able to travel to Israel. There, the imagery that Isaiah used in his writings became fully alive to us. The beautiful landscape brought us to tears. Our hearts overflowed with peace as we realized that these were the very places the Holy Family walked.
Jesus frequently invited his disciples to come away with him to a place for rest, to receive the peace that they needed to continue in their work. When we look to Mary as Jesus’ mother, we often forget that she was also his devoted disciple. Mary raised Jesus, but she also listened attentively to him. Surely Mary found peace in those same beautiful places in the countryside so she could return to the demands of her life as wife, mother, and disciple.
— Christine Grano
WHERE ARE THOSE PLACES in nature that fill you with God’s peace? Take some time to intentionally place yourself in the peace of God’s creation as Mary did.
Prayer: Dear Mary, you found refreshment and peace in God and in creation. Pray that we take time to follow your lead, and that we find for ourselves places of rest and peace.
January 22
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” — Galatians 5:22-23
Jesus gifts us with the fruits of the Spirit to help us in our times of need and weakness. They serve as a guide and reminder that we are not alone, nor separated from the One who sent the Spirit. Jesus is always with us, providing, nurturing, and peacefully empowering us.
As the mother of Jesus, Mary’s entire life reflects the full complement of the Holy Spirit’s gifts. Mary knew what it meant to have peace, love, kindness, and joy in her daily life, for she walked each day with Jesus. As the mother of our Savior, Mary’s life is a living model for us to follow on how to act, serve, and walk in the footsteps of her Son. Mary offers us a road map of where to go and to whom we should turn to in times of need.
— Gina Sannasardo
TURN TO MARY today and invite her to show you the pathway to peace. Seek Mary’s assistance in deepening your relationship with the
