Introduction: In fostering devotion to Mary, Mother of Jesus, it is important to be guided by the advice given to the Church's Teachers and Scholars by Vatican Council 11 - "to be careful to refrain as much from all false exaggeration as from too summary an attitude in considering the special dignity of the Mother of God".
Point 1: Present day devotion to Mary is derived from two sources - the Scriptures and consistent Tradition.
The earliest scriptural reference to the Mother of Jesus is contained in St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians -"But when the time had fully come, God sent his son born of a woman, born under the law" (Gal. 4:4).
It says more about Christ than it does about Mary, namely, that Christ was the Son of God, born of a woman. This early image of Mary as woman and mother is also presented in St. Mark's Gospel where she is mentioned twice, once by name. A more detailed description of Mary's role in the Divine plan of salvation is in St. Matthew's gospel. Here with his listing of the genealogy of the generations leading up to the birth of Jesus, Mary is presented as the final and perfect instrument in God's providential history. Jesus, Son of Mary, is the true continuation of the line of David from which the Messiah would be born; and Mary, as his mother, comes to be ranked with those other great women of Jewish history - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Like those women, Mary also showed initiative and courage when called on by God to fulfil the messianic plan.
Point 2: But, it is in the Gospel of St. Luke that we find the complete image of Mary as woman and mother. In the infancy narrative, Mary is always at the centre of the story. Luke records, in parallel, the two infancy narratives of John the Baptist and Jesus. We see the two Mothers bearing their sons; there is the visitation followed by the two births and the naming ceremonies. Then we lose sight of John as the story of Jesus unfolds when he is presented in the Temple to be recognised by the two Old Testament types Simeon and Anna. Finally the youth announces to his puzzled parents when they find him in the temple teaching, that he must be about his Father's business. And, throughout, like all Mothers, Mary was there wondering and treasuring all these things in her heart. The questions seemed endless - how could this be and why should it all be happening to her? All she knew was that she had been chosen. Despite her lowly state, God had chosen her to be the Mother of his Son who would be called Jesus - the one who saves.
This recognition is so beautifully expressed in her hymn of thanksgiving proclaimed on her visit to Elizabeth - "He has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden" (Luke 1:48). Her whole reaction throughout was guided by Faith, pure and simple. Not in her wildest dreams would she have foreseen the degree to which her prophetic words "and all generations will call me blessed" would come true.
Conclusion: This is the secret of Mary's greatness - her Faith and her Humility. In both word and deed she gave her unconditional consent - "Be it done unto me according to your word".
In Mary, God is mindful of His covenant that we read of in the book of Deuteronomy -"[Deu 7:12] If you heed these ordinances, by diligently observing them, the LORD your God will maintain with you the covenant loyalty that he swore to your ancestors;
[Deu 7:13] he will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock, in the land that he swore to your ancestors to give you". This prophecy came to be fulfilled by Mary carrying the Christ child in her womb; and it is precisely because she is the Mother of Jesus that we honour her, just as Elizabeth honoured her -"[Luke 1:41] When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
[Luke 1:42] and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
[Luke 1:43] And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
It has been said - "Happy is the house that the Mother of God visits". Equally may we say "Happy the heart that the Mother of God visits". Amen