May the Lord Look Upon You Kindly and Grant You Peace

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

The first day of every new calendar year the Church proclaims a “World Day of Peace” with the Holy Father praying earnestly with the whole Church for the entire world to be granted the precious gift of peace – something our poor world, and many parts of it in particular, need so desperately. The first reading of the Mass celebrated this day is the blessing of the people of Israel: “May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” It is the peace of the Lord that we long for and pray for – a peace that the world of itself cannot give, but only Christ who offers His peace.

At the same time, it is by design of the Church guided by the Holy Spirit that our petition for peace is invoked on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, her most Solemn Feast day. Why, you may ask, is this so special? To this query, the words of our Lady of Guadalupe come quickly to mind, and I will let our dear Mother answer the question herself in the message she gave to St. Juan Diego in December 1531 on Tepeyac Hill, just outside Mexico City, along with my own brief parenthetical observations. 

“Know for certain, littlest of my sons, that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God through Whom everything lives, the Lord of all things near and far, the Master of Heaven and Earth.” (Mary establishes her identity precisely as the one we are celebrating today – the Mother of God. She does it in the imagery and vocabulary that Juan Diego and the people of Mexico would best appreciate and understand – in the imagery of the Aztec culture.)

“I wish and intensely desire that in this place my sanctuary be erected. Here I will demonstrate, I will exhibit, I will give all my love, my compassion, my help and my protection to the people.” (She desires “intensely” to give all her love, compassion, help, and protection which are the remedies against the enemies of peace in our world and in our hearts. And how can we not be moved with hope and even joy by her ardent desire for our peace?) 

“I am your merciful Mother! The merciful Mother of all of you who live united in this land, and of all mankind, of all those who love me.” (Although our Lady is speaking personally with a chosen native of Mexico and is addressing the needs of the local people, she makes it clear that she is also the merciful Mother of not only those in that land, but of all mankind!)

“Here I will hear their weeping and their sorrow and will remedy and alleviate all their multiple sufferings, necessities and misfortunes.” (Mary, the Mother of the True God, is the one who protects and assists; gives peace and life to her children.)

Hence, we understand the wisdom of the Church to pray for peace through the Mother of God who is our Mother also!

A Happy New Year filled with peace to all our readers and supporters!