Saturday, December 20, 2014

J.M.J. One of my favorite passages from the Office of Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours is today's selection from a Homily entitled, "In Praise of the Virgin Mother" by Saint Bernard, Abbot (1090-1153).

"You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God Who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us.

( . . . . )

"Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word.

"Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. ( . . . ). "

Of course, Saint Bernard was not really scolding Our Lady. His beautiful hyperbole calls our attention to just how holy is the Ever-Virgin. She, far beyond any other human person, wanted our reconciliation to God that was demanded by the tragedy of Original Sin.

Yes, Mary did consent to become the Mother of God. Her cooperation with the Lord would be in lifelong display, especially thirty-three years later on Calvary when she participated again in our reconciliation to God by offering her Divine Son to His Heavenly Father. This is what we call "Coredemption."