Is it proper to call Mary "our life, our sweetness and our hope"?
The short answer
Yes. Just as parents call their children "my life" without putting them in God's place, we call Mary our life, sweetness and hope because she is the channel the Father chose to bring us his Son. Honoring her doesn't diminish Christ; it magnifies him.
Not literal
People often call their children their "life." No one takes this literally or thinks the children have replaced God; it expresses how much they matter.
Why these words fit Mary
Mary has no power of her own. She is our life because she is the channel the Father chose to bring us his Son, and she is our sweetness and hope for the same reason. We love her because she is God's Mother.
It magnifies Christ
Honoring Mary this way does not diminish who her Son is; it magnifies him. She is special because he is so much more special. Doesn't he deserve a mother who could be our life, our sweetness and our hope? Everything about her magnifies the Lord.
Continue exploring
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