Some Thoughts On...

[Jake Huether]

I hesitated to post this a few days ago. But I feel more compelled now:

We must realize that there was much more to the lives of Jesus, Mary, and the others than just what the Bible tells.

Mary definitly had a relationship with God BEFORE the angel appeared to her.

The thought just popped into my head a few days ago that the annunciation by Gabriel was just the "formal" invitation to be the bride of the Holy Spirit! But like all callings, Mary must have known (or at least had the inclination) about her future marriage to God. In fact, according to other written sources, Mary was thought to have dedicated herself as a Temple Virgin. Quite fitting if one had the calling to marry God, the very same steps one would take NOW in marrying God - becoming a nun. Now, according to the Gospels, one can draw the conclusion that Mary didn't know she would have a Child with God. She might have only thought that she would dedicate herself as a bride to Him. Little did she know that she would bear His Son!

I suppose these thoughts came from the fact that while I was reading Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich's Dolorous Passion it became clear to me how much Jesus instructed Mary and the Apostles. Just based on the Gospels one would think that the Aposltes were very "in the dark", and that might have been the case to an extent. But it cannot be thought that Christ would leave His Apostles so confused or unschooled. They most certainly weren't. We can know for sure that Christ instructed the Apostles beyond what is merely written. The Gospels themselves are clear on this point. Christ, therefore, must have communicated to Mary His plan even before it came to pass. The surprise of the Annunciation wasn't therefore due to Mary being "overcome by the Power of the Spirit", but moreso due to the fact that she would be the only Bride worthy of bearing His Son!

I guess my post is just to bring to your attention the fact that Mary was constantly communicating with God. It wasn't like up until the Annunciation Mary was just a nice little girl. Mary knew a lot more than what the Gospels can account for. We need to realize that, especially when trying to understand her Perpetual Virginity.

[cmotherofpirl]

Yep.
God is constantly calling to our hearts which are clouded my our tendency to sin. Imagine God communicating to a heart that was perfectly clear.

[Jake Huether]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='May 6 2004, 02:06 PM'] Yep.
God is constantly calling to our hearts which are clouded my our tendency to sin. Imagine God communicating to a heart that was perfectly clear. [/quote]
So true! I hadn't thought of that. What a relationship Mary had with God, not just her Son, but her Bride and her Father!

I wish I could push sin aside long enought to get to know God even half as well as Mary did!