Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Mary

Remember, O Most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.--The Memorare
 
Sadly, from the late 16th century on, much of the "reformed" Christian world slowly lost the long held devotion to Mary. Before the reformation, for 1500 years, the Mother of God was vital to all who called upon Jesus. Even the reformers themselves had deep devotions to Mary. But because of heresy, horrible teaching, wrong ideas, and ignorance...a large percentage of believers today do not know their Mother in the faith. No one who truly understands Mary's role in Salvation History does anything with this knowledge except strive to love Jesus with more passion and sincerity. Her role is to bring people to Jesus, to help us all love Him with a perfect and humble love, like children. It is that simple. Any other idea or opinion is not the true teaching of the catechism of the Church. Catholics do not worship Mary, we honor her, and we ask her help in saying yes to the Father in all things, just as she did. She has always held this high place and filled this role in the Church of her Son. The very first Church communities in the east and west honored the Mother Of God by naming their churches after her. In honoring her, they were humbly pleasing the Son. To seek the mother's help in knowing the Son is the best way to know Him. Any mother will tell you this. The early Church Fathers saw Mary as the symbol of the Church. The Virgin who births the family of God in Christ Jesus, the Mother of all the faithful. To understand her and to love her is to better know Jesus.  I must say this, my relationship with Jesus has grown immensely, and with great depth and beauty, since I began to know and understand Mary. It is all about Jesus. She exists to bring Him to us all. Even in saying this, we realize this is why we all exist as His "brothers and sisters", to bring Him to those around us.
 
wkm
 
 
Virgin and Child. Wall painting from the catacombs, Rome (4th century).

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