The late Fr. Gabriel Amorth, the Chief Exorcist of Rome once said, “The devil is much afraid when we invoke the name of Mary than when we invoke the name of Jesus. This is because he knows that Jesus love His Mother so much that He will do whatever she asks.”

Fr. Jose Antonio Fortea once said, “When the devil was asked why he fears Mary so much, he replies: ‘Because she is the only creature who was never under my power.”

Why the very strong reaction of the devil when it comes to Mother Mary? Remember in the book of Genesis, when Adam and Eve sinned, what did God say to the snake, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike your head and you will strike his heel.” This means, while the devil indeed causes great suffering (“Strike his heel”), he will be defeated because Jesus will strike his head.

Hence, the victory of good over evil started when Mother Mary was born, which is today’s feast. Because eventually after 14 to 16 years later, at the time Mary was betrothed, the Messiah will be born of the Virgin.

That is why as we celebrate this feast, three things we remember:

• First, we remember that God has a plan in everything. When Adam and Eve sinned, the devil taught it was victorious. It only realized later that God had a plan in crushing evil through the Messiah, born of the Virgin.
• Second, Hail, Full of Grace. This is what Angel Gabriel said of Mary. Why? If the savior will be born of the Virgin, the Virgin would have to have no stain of sin. Hence, she was immaculately conceived. Sin did not touch Mother Mary.
• Third, God desires our Eternal Life. Through the life of Mary who was humble and obedient, trusting God’s plan for her, Mary was assumed into heaven Body and Soul. She reminds us to always trust God.

As with any child born into the world, the Child bring Joy, the Child had a plan from God and a Child bring hope. More so, the birth of Mother Mary. Joy, because the Messiah will soon come; Plan from God, to save Man from damnation; and Hope, because we have a very powerful intercessor praying for us and praying with us.