Fiat Voluntas Tua (Let Thy Will Be Done)

by Mark Paul Pilar

In Nomine Patris, Et Filii, Et Spiritus Sancti, Amen (In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen) 
    When we reflect on the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, we have to think like a writer trying to write a new story. A writer creates the characters, their backstory, assigns them specific roles, and tells the story utilizing characters that he or she created in order to bring the entire story to life. That’s what God did with our Blessed Mother, even before she came into existence, God had already assigned her the role she was going to play and that she’d be conceived without original sin and play the role of the Mother of Christ. 
    The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception teaches us that God has already written our story just like He did for our Blessed Mother. Although we don’t know how our lives will exactly play out according to God’s plan, we must continue to place our full trust in God’s plan for our lives and let Him tell the story that He has written for each one of us. 
How? Trusting in Him. Easier said than done, I know. It’s never an easy thing to do especially when we are wanting things to go our way all the time, especially when life will hit us unexpectedly. 
On the Feast Day of the Immaculate conception, the Gospel reading is from Luke 1:26-38. St Gabriel the Archangel was sent by God to visit our Blessed Mother in Nazareth and spoke the words “Hail Full of Grace, the Lord is with you” and then reassured her saying “Do Not Be Afraid”, from there St Gabriel told our Blessed Mother that she will be conceived by the Holy Ghost and that the child Jesus will be born. Mary did have fear but her ultimate response to St Gabriel was “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done unto me according to thy word”. Our Blessed Mother’s response was a response of trusting God fully by the words of her beautiful Fiat.
    Even though we are presented with opportunities where God asks of us to take the leap of faith so that we can meet Him where he’s at in our lives, we have to be like our Blessed Mother and recite the words of her Faith “May it be done unto me according to they word”. Many of you know my discernment story that is still being revealed to me and the risk I took to get to where I am at. For those of you who don’t know I am currently in a long-distance relationship and by long distance, I mean in another country, and by another country, I mean Canada. 
    In July 2021, Celina and I received news that the Canadian Borders will be open to US travelers. Prior to that we were worried and prayed a lot that the borders would be open and they did. The following month was when I took the leap of faith to book my flight to meet Celina in Edmonton for the first time. I was scared and by scared I mean I almost did not fly up. So many thoughts of doubt were running through my mind but I then I ended up praying the rosary. After praying the rosary was when I booked my trip and right before hitting the “Book Flight’ button, I whispered “Lord, let it be done unto me according to thy word”.
    October 2nd came and I was already on my flight. During my flight’s, I prayed the rosary and kept on whispering Mary’s fiat over and over again and reminded myself not to expect anything from this trip because I was only meeting Celina for the first time. When I got to meet Celina the next day, we got acquainted and started our first adventure together. I got to meet her family, her roommates, and her friends throughout this trip. In the middle of it all we expressed doubts and thoughts about whether this would work out or not. On October 11, 2021 we went to Mass together on the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. The Gospel for that feast day is Mary’s Fiat. Luke 1:26-38. That was the day where we officially started dating and trusted God with His plan for us.  
    God has presented me an opportunity to take that leap of faith and trust Him and never would I thought I would have made that trip and I’m glad I did because God presented me with the opportunity to discern with Celina and to grow in faith and trust in Him to a whole new level. Even though my story is still being revealed, I know that every time I read up on the Immaculate Conception, I am always reminded of Mary’s Fiat.
    The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception reminds us that God has already written our story for us and knows how it will end up just like how he has written our Blessed Mother’s story. When God presents us with challenges that shake our faith, new opportunities that are intimidating, difficult decisions to make, etc. We are called to Trust God and to also meditate on the words of our Blessed Mother’s fiat “Let it be done unto me according to thy word”. 
 May the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception teach us and Trust in God’s plan for our lives even in the midst of uncertainty. If God already knew what plan He had for our Blessed Mother even before she was conceived, God already knows what plan He has for our own lives. Trust in Him. 
In Nomine Patris, Et Filii, Et Spiritus Sancti, Amen (In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen) ​

Mark has been apart of EPIC ministry since 2015. Throughout his years in EPIC, he has served as a small group leader, been part of the Core team and served as a Site Team Leader and Information Officer from 2019-2022. Aside from being a part of EPIC and serving the ministry, he also attends the Traditional Latin Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Pauoa and serves as one of the Sacristans for that parish. Outside of Church, Mark is a Full-Time Inspector at ADT security and is currently working on obtaining his Cyber Security Certification and restarting his photography business within the next year.