Mary was born in Nazareth (Hebrew-Nazar meaning Flower) as the result of twenty years of constant prayer of a holy couple named Joachim and Anna. She was born fifteen years, three months and seventeen days before the birth of Christ. The Aramaic name ‘Mariam’ has its English rendering as ‘Mary’ meaning ‘The Star of the Sea’. Yes Mary is surely the Guiding Star for every seafarer – we who toss upon the stormy sea of this world.
Predestined from all eternity by God to become the Mother of Jesus- the Saviour-God in human form, Mary was conceived and born Immaculate ( with out the stain of original sin of Adam and Eve which every human being shares).
She grew up in spotless purity, deep humility, prayer and practice of every virtue.
When God’s own fullness of time had come, God approached the dazzling ‘grace-fullness’ of Mary through an Angel seeking her consent to be born of her as the Saviour of the world. Although Mary as a virgin expressed her puzzle in conceiving a child without any contact of a man, when the angel explained to her that the Holy Spirit of God will overshadow her impregnating her with God’s own Word Incarnate whom she should call Jesus-the Saviour, Mary bowed and said, “YES”. At that very moment she conceived Jesus. The ‘Yes’ of Mary to become the Mother of the Saviour of the world was also her ‘Yes’ to become the Mother of the world, to be the Co-redemptrix of the world and a never failing ‘Helper’, ‘Intercessor’ and the ‘Dispenser of God’s Graces’ to her sinful children here on earth who call on her help.
As God did not allow the Immaculate Mother of God to undergo decay, at the end of her earthly life Mary was taken up into Heaven, body and soul on the wings of the angel-choir and was crowned as the Queen of heaven and earth. Christians call it the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and celebrate it on 15th August –the Day of India’s Independence. Thus for Indian Christians the mid-August brings a double celebration of freedom: the political freedom of their Motherland and the freedom of their Mother from her earthly sojourn.
Although assumed into heaven Mary our Mother has not left us in this vale of tears. She still lives with us, helping us in our spiritual and material needs. Mother Mary has appeared in various places like Fatima, Lourdes and Mexico to mention a few to her simple devotees providing them healing and peace, asking them to pray for the world, to do penance in reparation for the mounting evil around us and lead a holy life worthy of heaven. Most places of our holy Mother’s apparitions have grown into famous Marian Shrines and Pilgrimage- Centers across the world.
Let the light of Mariampur- Mary’s own City shine on everyone who passes through its glorious portals. And may every Mariampurian radiate peace and goodness, love and compassion towards all and uphold justice and truth in her personal life, in her family, in her work-place and in our dear country as a whole.
As the Angel Gabriel thus salutes our Mother, ‘ Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you; Blessed are you among women and blessed is the Fruit of your womb Jesus’; let us pray, “Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.