b'MARIAN WISDOMMARYS ANGUISHBECAME HER MISSIONAt the foot of the cross, Jesus entrusted Mary to the beloved disciple and the beloved disciple to Mary By Brother Dennis Bautista, SMS omeday, when I go to Heaven (God willingand not too soon!), one of the first people I hope to speak with is Mary. I have manyquestions for her. On parenting: Was it hard to raise Jesus?On being sinless: When did you find out, ordid you always know? And once you knew,was it easier to live with temptation?On generosity: How did you keep sayingyes to God, especially knowing whatwould come at the end?Standing at the foot of her sons cross musthave been the lowest moment of Marys life.No words can describe the anguish of watchingher child suffer a brutal and public execution.Her son is humiliated and tortured. Mary cando nothing to stop it. She cannot take the painaway. She cannot change the outcome. All shecan offer is her presence.She stands. She stays.This moment reflects a pattern that runsthrough Marys vocation. Her life includesmany moments of helplessness. She becomespregnant under circumstances that could haveled to her death. She gives birth in poverty.With Joseph, she flees to another country toprotect her child from violence. Repeatedly,events unfold that she cannot control.Each time, Mary chooses the same response. Shetrusts God and cooperates with Gods plan, evenwhen it does not make sense and feels hopeless.At the foot of the cross, that pattern reachesCross (John 19:26-27) by Angelica Ballan, pewter, n.d. Courtesy of the its peak. Mary faces a question many of usMarian Library, University of Dayton. eventually face when life seems to be ending4Call 1.800.348.4732'