J.M.J. During his seventy Marian discourses
given as his Wednesday General Audience addresses from 1995 to 1997, Saint John
Paul II, among many other matters, touched upon “the Blessed Virgin’s
association with Christ’s mission (that) reached its culmination in Jerusalem,
at the time of the Redeemer’s Passion and Death.” (April 2, 1997)
His Holiness continued: “In the Fourth Gospel, Saint John says that
‘standing by the Cross of Jesus were His Mother, and His Mother’s sister, Mary
the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene’ (19:25). By using the verb ‘to stand’,
which literally means ‘to be on one’s feet’, ‘to stand erect’, perhaps the
Evangelist intends to present the dignity and strength shown in their sorrow by
Mary and the other women. The Blessed Virgin’s ‘standing erect’ at the foot of
the Cross recalls her unfailing constancy and extraordinary courage in facing
suffering. In the tragic events of Calvary, Mary is sustained by faith,
strengthened during the events of her life and especially during Jesus’ public
life. The Council recalls that ‘the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage
of faith and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the Cross’ (Lumen gentium, n.58).”
We can only
marvel at Our Sorrowful Mother’s complete and consistent devotion to Jesus. “Sharing
his deepest feelings, she counters the arrogant insults addressed to the
crucified Messiah with forbearance and pardon, associating herself with his
prayer to the Father: ‘Forgive them, for they know not what they do’ (Lk
23:34). By sharing in the feeling of abandonment to the Father’s will expressed
in Jesus’ last words on the Cross: ‘Father into Your hands I commend My
Spirit!’ (ibid., 23:46), she thus
offers, as the Council notes, loving consent ‘to the immolation of this Victim
which was born of her’ (Lumen gentium,
n. 58).”
In the
final analysis, death and fear do not overcome, but rather life and trust.
After the Easter Vigil of Holy Saturday concludes, and for the duration of the
Eastertide, the Church replaces the Angelus
with the Regina Caeli, “inviting the
faithful to join in the spiritual joy of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer. The
Blessed Virgin’s gladness at Christ’s Resurrection is even greater if one
considers her intimate participation in Jesus’ entire life.”
No comments:
Post a Comment