October – Our Lady, Mother of God, and the Beauty of Creation

In the Catholic Church, October is the month of Our Lady—a young girl who, with great courage, consented to bear a child out of wedlock. Without hesitation, she accepted the responsibility and said “yes” to God. Her simple “yes” has resounded across the centuries, reminding us that even in unsettled times, God is present and at work.

As we move into this month, the Church also brings to a close the Season of Creation on October 4th, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, patron of ecology. Only a few days later, on October 7th, we celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary, recalling Mary’s enduring presence in the Church’s prayer. Together these feasts invite us to contemplate the gift of creation and Mary’s motherly care for our world.

Pope Francis, in Laudato Si’, reminds us: “The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God” (Laudato Si’, 84).

Driving around Canberra, I see this love reflected in the beauty that surrounds us—the rolling hills, the blossoms of spring, the gift of sunshine and rain. Nature offers us a glimpse of God’s tenderness, yet I also feel a deep sadness at how easily we humans damage this gift, even to the point of forgetting or excluding God.

Mary Potter, founder of the Little Company of Mary, also saw creation and daily life as pathways to God’s presence. She wrote: “See how God’s beauty surrounds you. In the flowers, the stars, the skies, His love is reflected to you. And yet this is but a shadow of His greater love shown at the Cross.” (Letters, LCM Archives).

For me, Mary has always been a backstop. When I felt worried for my children, or when problems arose, I knew I could lean on her strength. Today I pray for the guidance and courage of Our Lady, especially as we face threats to the future of our grandchildren and to the way of life we treasure.

Pope Francis, in his more recent encyclical Laudate Deum, warns us that “our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point” (Laudate Deum, 2). His words are sobering, but they call us back to Mary’s courage—her willingness to entrust her life to God’s promise. If she could say “yes” in her time of uncertainty, then we too are invited to say “yes” to caring for creation, protecting life, and trusting in God’s mercy.

Mary Potter put it simply: “The Blessed Virgin’s whole life was one long act of faith, of simple trust in God. Let us learn from her to place our confidence not in ourselves, but in Him alone.” (The Path of Mary).

I feel grateful that my parents gave me the name Lourdes. Though it was sometimes difficult as a child when others tried to shorten it, today I treasure it as a special gift, linking me to Our Lady. Like Mary at Lourdes, who appeared to the young Bernadette in the quiet of nature, she continues to be for me a source of strength and reassurance.

As we enter October, may we keep Mary close, hold fast to God’s beauty in creation, and find courage to live our own “yes” with hope and trust.

Questions for Reflection

1. In what ways do I experience God’s presence in the beauty of creation around me?
2. Where in my life is God inviting me, like Mary, to say “yes” with trust and courage?
3. How can I, in my daily choices, protect creation for the sake of future generations?