Today at Mass, we sang the Magnificat. This is Mary’s response to Elizabeth. The Magnificat can be found in Luke chapter 1 verse 46-55. This is how it goes, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever. As we sang the words, rejoices in God my Savior, I just happen to look over at our statue of the Pieta. The Pieta is a statue with Mary holding Jesus in her arms right after he has been taken down from the cross. I wonder if Mary’s Magnificat went through her mind at that moment. 33 years ago she had sang out loud and rejoiced in the fact that God had given her a son and not just any son but His Son. I wonder if her soul rejoiced in God at that moment. I bet it did, I think she knew. The Bible is clear that Mary Magdalene, the Apostles and a few other followers were not expecting to see Jesus again. But it never mentions his mother being shocked to see Him after the Crucifixion. I think at the moment of His death I think Mary felt a great sorrow and a tremendous loss, but I also think she felt joy. I think she believed that her son was indeed God. I don’t think that her knowing that eased the pain of her only son dying. Have any of you ever had a child go through surgery or suffer a serous injury? Most of us break down at the moment we are told they are going to be alright. That’s the way it was for me, as soon as the nurse came out and said my son had made it through the surgery, I broke down. I think the magnitude of knowing what just happened and what could have happened hits you. I think she knew at that moment how every parent feels when they lose a child. So many question arise just from one little glance at a statue. I thank God for giving his Church the wisdom to realize the importance of art just as he used it in the Temple. May the Holy Mother of God pray for us all the days of our lives