Giving thanks

As the year winds down now, winter on its way, it seems a perfect time to think of the past year and to give thanks for God’s blessings.

Mary’s Magnificat, her prayer of praise and thanksgiving, details his mercy, his strength and his many blessings.

My soul doth magnify the Lord.

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid;

for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Because he that is mighty,

hath done great things to me;

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is from generation unto generations,

to them that fear him.

He hath shewed might in his arm:

he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat,

and hath exalted the humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things;

and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath received Israel his servant,

being mindful of his mercy:

As he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

On November 21 we celebrate the presentation of Mary in the Temple. The Protoevengelium of James tells us that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was three years old, fulfilling a promise made to God when Anna was still childless. She was dedicated to God in preparation for her unique role in God’s saving work. On November 28, in the U.S., we will celebrate Thanksgiving, a time when we give thanks for all our blessings. It seems a fitting time to give thanks to God for the life and accomplishments of John Stokes, whose vision of flower gardens honoring Mary led to the establishment of Mary Gardens in the U.S. and many other countries. As we peruse John ‘s legacy, the Mary’s Gardens website, campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/m_garden/marygardensmain.html‎  we are grateful for his vision, his inspiration. ·