Mary’s intimate dialogue with the Word of God

Mary and Joseph take their Son to Jerusalem, to the Temple, to present him to the Lord and to consecrate him as required by Mosaic Law… Mary’s “yes” to God’s will, in the obedience of faith, is repeated throughout her life, until the most difficult moment, that of the Cross…

How was Mary able to journey on beside her Son with such a strong faith, even in darkness, without losing her full trust in the action of God?

Mary assumes a fundamental approach in facing what happens in her life. At the Annunciation, on hearing the Angel’s words she is distressed — it is the fear a person feels when moved by God’s closeness — but it is not the attitude of someone who is afraid of what God might ask.

Mary reflects, she ponders on the meaning of this greeting… Mary enters into an intimate dialogue with the Word of God that has been announced to her, she does not consider it superficially but meditates on it, lets it sink into her mind and her heart so as to understand what the Lord wants of her, the meaning of the announcement.

Pope Benedict XVI

Catechesis during the General Audience of December 19, 2012