Mary Making Me Pretty

I could be wrong, but I think every girl wants to be told that she is pretty. People remark on what the see on the outside, because it is readily seen. I hope every girl wants to work to be pretty on the inside too. That beauty takes longer to mature but it lasts right up to eternity.

I have been thinking a lot about eternity. God's kingdom. In God's kingdom all of the saints and angels are described not as pretty or beautiful, but glorious. The reason they are glorious to behold is because they overflowing with God's glory, His beauty and His light. God's kingdom where Love and Joy dwell, because He is Love and Joy.

Why am I thinking about eternity? Well, I think we all should. It is the final stop on our pilgrimage in this world. I have a lot of people that have passed away in my life recently to also remind me of eternity. And then I have the ever increasing reminders from my own body...more gray hair, the appearance of age spots, and my internal temperature being out of whack just to name a few. I was never noted as being beautiful or even pretty when I was growing up. If I was ever addressed as such it was “Wow. You have beautiful blue eyes.” or "You have a great smile."  I was surrounded by beautiful people while I was growing up and thankfully they were beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside. I was the kid that came into the house dirty, crumb stained mouth and usually in mismatched wardrobe. I see my inner spiritual child as resembling the same. “How can I appear before God if I look like this?” I wondered. “You won't.” came my answer and then I was reminded that I am consecrated to Jesus through Mary. Mary, my mother, will clean me up before I come before God. Mothers always make sure that you are presentable. Mary would do the same. Also, Mothers usually accompany their children when they are meeting someone special. Mary would do the same.

I am reminded of St. Louis de Montfort's analogy that is highlighted in Fr. Michael Gaitley's book 33 Days to Morning Glory, which is the accessible way for many people to attempt the devotion of the consecration to Jesus through Mary. Here is the excerpt...

“It is as if a peasant, wishing to gain the friendship and benevolence of the king, went to the queen and presented her with a fruit which was his whole revenue, in order that she might present it to the king. The queen, having accepted the poor little offering from the peasant, would place the fruit on a large and beautiful dish of gold, and so, on the peasant's behalf, would present it to the king. Then the fruit, however unworthy in itself to be a king's present, would become worthy of his majesty because the dish of gold on which it rested and the person who presented it.”

Mary can make us presentable to God. Mary can even make us pretty to His eyes.