Mary, the one who kept all these things in her heart

here is a point about the Virgin Mary in a Gospel passage where critics stumble. They misinterpret the meaning of the verse: "And it came to pass, as he spoke, that a woman raised her voice from the midst of the crowd and said to him, 'Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you.' But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Luke 11:28).

They use these words to claim that Christians, and especially Catholics, are forbidden to proclaim Mary blessed, in accordance with the Gospel (Luke 1:48-49). Yet, how do they fail to see that the words they want to turn against the Virgin Mary perfectly apply to her, and actually proclaim that she is blessed first of all for having listened to the Word of God and observed it?

Did Mary not listen to the Word of God, did she not believe it? Did she not put it into practice? Mary replied to the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word!" (Luke 1, 38). And Elizabeth said to Mary: "Yes, blessed is she who has believed in the fulfillment of what has been spoken to her by the Lord" (Luke 1:45).

Luke goes on: "As for Mary, she kept all these things carefully and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2, 19). This is how we have come to know the story of the birth of Jesus in in the manger. We would obviously not have this Gospel passage about Bethlehem if Mary had not "kept these things in her heart".

Hervé-Marie Catta

Adapted from http://www.1000questions.net/fr/chroniq/les-protestants.html