What Was the Happiest Day of Mary's Life?

By Mariah Mulderink

What is the happiest day of your life?

Have you ever been asked this question?  I think I have been asked some variation of it a number of times.  “What is your happiest memory?” “When were you most happy?”  They aren’t bad questions and I don’t think they're meant to be incredibly deep.  My typical answer is usually something like my wedding day or the day my son was born.  However, I know that while those days were truly happy and wonderful, they weren’t the happiest day of my life.  That, I hope, is yet to come.

What was the happiest day of Mary’s life?

Ponder this for a moment.  Where does your mind jump to?  I think, perhaps a lot of us might jump to the day of Christ’s resurrection.  Perhaps, we would guess that the happiest day of Mary’s life was the day her Son rose from the dead.  It isn’t a bad answer.  For many of us that makes perfect sense.  Especially for those of us who have lost a loved one, it is easy to think that the happiest day of Mary’s life would be when she was united with the Son she thought was dead.

However, I am going to venture that Mary was smarter than that.  I have no doubt that she was overjoyed to see her resurrected Son.  I think though that she knew her Son would rise.  Hadn’t Christ been telling everyone that He would rise on the third day?  Wouldn’t a mother be hoping this was true?  We have pondered different moments of Mary’s life.  Think back to that first moment, the moment of her Fiat.  That moment shows us Mary’s trust and immense faith.  I think it was with that same trust and faith that she awaited the resurrection of her Son.  So, I think that day was a happy one for Mary, but I don’t think it was the happiest day of Mary’s life.

That day came later.  It came after the ascension of Jesus into Heaven.  It came after Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and Mary.  The happiest day of Mary’s life was the day she was assumed into Heaven.  It was on this day that Mary was truly united to her Son, completely and totally.  This was what her heart had longed for.  This was the fulfillment of all she had ever wanted.  Her Son’s death, His resurrection, all of it had led to this.  

You see, Mary would have understood that His death and resurrection were avenues by which total union with her Son was made possible.

The Happiest Day of Our Lives

So, the happiest day of our lives...it hasn’t come yet.  I pray, I hope, I trust that it will come.  God is good and He gives us so much in our lives.  There are so many moments in our lives where we experience happiness.  These are glimpses, hints at what is awaiting us for all eternity.  Look towards that!  Live your life towards it.  There is no greater joy than that which awaits you in Heaven.  The joy of being united with Christ and celebrating at the marriage feast in Heaven is so beyond what we can imagine.  It is so SO good.  Again, I invite you to follow Mary.  Love her and stay close to her always.  She will only lead you towards what is good and loving and fulfilling:  Her Son.

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For the month of May, a reflection on the life of Mary will be posted each week.  Catch up here!

Also, check out the many different aids we have for strengthening a devotion to the Rosary!  Our 28 Day Rosary Challenge is a great place to get started. 

If you are in need of a Rosary that's always within reach, check these out!