The Lenten journey is one of following Christ. Throughout the ages, a great many Lenten hymns, prayers, and devotions involving Mary have developed. That’s not surprising at all. For Lent is about standing up and following Jesus, just as His mother did so well.
A common Protestant objection to Catholic teaching about and devotion to Mary is that Christ supposedly rebuked her in Luke 11. A woman from the crowd had shouted out, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” The Lord’s response was terse: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:27-28).
The Catholic understanding is that the Lord was not saying that Mary was not blessed; instead, He was declaring what was more blessed. Mary is blessed not simply for the biological act of carrying, giving birth, or even nursing the little Lord Jesus. She is truly blessed because she heard the word of God calling her to be the mother of the Lord and responded, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
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