# What is trust?
*2019-04-04*

> Bill Young reflects on the third day of the '33 Days to Merciful Love' retreat, exploring the nature of trust through the example of the Virgin Mary.

## The Intercession of Mary

I recently had the opportunity to host festivities with the Legion of Mary at St. David's Catholic Church in Davie, Florida. A highlight for many of us was consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary. I always suggest that anyone who can join the Legion of Mary should do so, even if only as an auxiliary member to pray the rosary.

I saw a small but beautiful example of Mary's care in my own life recently. I have some ducks that visit my backyard, and because I had been so busy with the Legion festivities, I hadn't had time to feed them. As I was rushing to work, I felt terrible seeing them waiting for me, especially since I was low on bird food. Suddenly, a neighbor with whom I hadn't spoken in months—someone with very different political views who had avoided me for a long time—came to my door to offer me extra bird food. He even agreed to feed the ducks for me. Mary knew this little thing was weighing on my heart, and she arranged for a neighbor to reach out and help at the exact moment I needed it.

## The Path to Divine Mercy

I am currently working through the '33 Days to Merciful Love' retreat, which is a preparation for consecration to Divine Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday. For those in the South Florida area, we are meeting at St. David's Catholic Church on Friday evenings after the Stations of the Cross. 

We are using the works of Father Michael Gaitley. He has mentioned that this specific book is among his most important writings. It reminds us of a truth often shared in homilies: if you want to be a friend of Jesus, you must know Mary. We go through Mary to get to Jesus, and through Jesus to the Holy Spirit and the Father.

## Trusting the Final Analysis

On the third day of the retreat, we ask: 'What is trust?' We look at the Annunciation and the secret of Mary's faith. As St. John Paul II pointed out, Mary believed that what the Lord spoke to her would be fulfilled, even when it seemed impossible. Her faith was like that of Abraham, who hoped against hope. 

I think of this in terms of a 'final analysis.' In sports, you might see a spoiler alert telling you that your team won the game. You don't know how it happened—maybe they were down by 25 points in the fourth quarter—but you know the end result. Life is similar. If we have faith, we know the final analysis: God will win, evil will be stamped out, and we will be victorious through Christ. When you know the final score, you don't get as hung up on the small setbacks or the moments where you feel you are losing. Mary trusted this final analysis even when she didn't understand how it was physically possible.

## Faith in the Midst of Struggle

Trust is not just a theological concept; it is a weapon. Years ago, my wife and I struggled to conceive. After eight years, she became pregnant, but we tragically lost the first child. When she conceived our second child, the symptoms were the same, and it looked like we would face the same heartbreaking outcome. However, we turned to the Holy Rosary. We prayed together for seven days straight, and the bleeding stopped. She eventually delivered a healthy baby boy, our son Gregory. This experience taught me that when two or more people pray, God is with them. We must trust in the grace of God, for it is only through His grace that we reach heaven.

*Trust is the secret of Mary's faith: knowing that regardless of the current struggle, the final analysis is that God wins and good conquers evil.*