Ecce, Fiat, and Magnificat

This was from the March EWTN newsletter. It is written by Deacon Bill Steltemeier.

In addition to praying for an increase in the virtue of reverence, sometimes we need some extra help in meditating upon the profound mysteries of our Faith. I recently read something about Our Lady that aided in my own meditation on her life and her relationship to the Father. The crux of what I read explained that Our Lady’s life can be summed up by three words: ECCE, FIAT, and MAGNIFICAT. As we prepare for the great Solemnity of the Annunciation, I encourage you to take these three words to prayer:
Ecce — "Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” This was Our Lady’s response to the Angel Gabriel. Her “Ecce” is synonymous with her availability to God. Mary was ever ready (and remains ever ready) to fulfill her Lord’s command. How available am I to the Lord when I hear His call?
Fiat — “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Obedience, especially prompt obedience, is a fitting offering to make to the Lord. He never imposes Himself upon us, yet we can be 100% sure that if He asks us to do something, it is for our good. The Lord will never abandon us, particularly when we strive to do His Will in a spirit of obedient surrender.
Magnificat — “My soul magnifies the Lord.” To exalt God is the quintessential cause of our joy. Praising the all-loving, all-merciful Father is the path to ultimate
fulfillment. To exalt ‘self’ only leads to misery and disappointment. Our Lady pointed the way, as her soul proclaimed the greatness of the Lord. Let us jealously follow her example.
Family, daily, even hourly, we each have the opportunity to repeat these words to the Lord: “Behold, here I am Lord. I have come to do Your Will, for I know that You alone are worthy of all praise!” Let us join our own Ecce, Fiat, and Magnificat to those of Our Lady. It is in this way that we will most perfectly model our life after hers.

I liked this. I particularly like the line, “Behold, here I am Lord. I have come to do Your Will, for I know that You alone are worthy of all praise!” It sound like something that would be a good part of my personal mission statement. No, I don't have a personal mission statement. I read all the time that I should, but I have never come up with one. I'm sure the main reason I never has is because of my perfectionist procrastination - I don't know how to make it perfect, so I put off doing it at all. Maybe that should be one of my goals for 2007.