College Chaplain

Mary Our Mother

Since our college is named after Mary (Marian College), and since the feast of Assumption is fast approaching, it would be appropriate to remind ourselves again, over and over the importance of Mary in our catholic life. 

Our dear Blessed Mother Mary is often seen as the Quiet Woman of Scripture. Mary spoke only a few times and is mentioned only a few times in the sacred scripture. St. Luke states that Mary retained a record of all God's doings by treasuring these events in her heart. I quote: "She kept all these things in memory" (Lk 2:51). But even in the sacred scriptures, where she did speak, or some things were said about her, we can enter the mind and spirituality of Mary, our Mother and model.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, the Mother of the Saviour of the World, is appropriately called the "Mother of God."  It is worth reflecting upon this powerful title of our Blessed Mother. And it's important to understand that this title says just as much about Jesus as it does about His Blessed Mother. 

In calling Mary the "Mother of God," we especially acknowledge one fact of human life. A mother is not just the source of one's flesh; she is not just the Mother of the body of her children; she is the Mother of that person. Being a mother is not just something biological; it is something sacred and holy and is part of the divine order of God's creation. Jesus was her Child, and this Child is God. Therefore, it is logical to call Mary the "Mother of God."

It's a fantastic fact to think about! God has a mother! He has a particular person who carried Him in her womb, nursed Him, raised Him, taught Him, loved Him, was there for Him and pondered who He was throughout His life. 

At the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel told Mary that God chose her to be the Mother of the Messiah. Mary gave her “fiat” to this role. “May it be done to me according to your word.” (from Luke 1:38). She accepted God's invitation to be the Mother of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, without understanding the full ramification of her "fiat". She trusted God. Her faith and trust in God are a great example of how we should trust and have unyielding faith in God.

To prepare Mary Our Mother for this role, by the grace of God, Mary was born without sin. We call this her Immaculate Conception. No other person has been born without original sin. Therefore, the Assumption of Mary (coming up on the 15th of August) into heaven is a logical consequence of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Because Mary was born without original sin, she did not suffer its effects, among which is death. Because she was a kind of Ark of the New Covenant, carrying the Church in the person of Christ, God preserved her from sin and wanted her in His presence when her time on earth ceased. No saint has ever enjoyed such a privilege because no saint ever had the relationship with Christ that Mary enjoyed. A pious tradition says that the choirs of angels in heaven whispered in awe to each other as Mary was assumed into God’s presence, “Who is this woman treated with such unique respect and honour?”

Hence, Devotion to the Virgin Mary is not just a more intense version of devotion to a saint. It is so much more than that. True devotion to Mary is on a higher plane of spirituality, something "cradle Catholics" know instinctively, even if they cannot explain it. With Mary as our Mother, the Church and her doctrines are vivified. They seem to matter more. The Church is closer to us, and we are closer to her because of Mary. Marian spirituality is more than religious wisdom in the Eastern tradition. It is more than acknowledging that Jesus Christ came from a particular woman and a particular town. To be "Marian" is to know why God would want her assumed into heaven, body intact. To be "Marian" is to understand that no one asks about a baby without asking about its Mother in the same breath. Mary was not just the first Christian. She was, for years, the only Christian. She was, for years, the entire Church.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is our Mother because of Jesus. She accepted God's invitation to be the Mother of the Messiah. Mary gave birth to Jesus and raised Him with St. Joseph. Mary is the Mother of Jesus, and because of this, she is also the Mother of the Catholic Church and Mother of all the faithful. She sets a notable example of unwavering faith and trust in God. Mary comes to our aid to help us; “Mary can help us; Mary will help us and Mary does help us”. She is a mother who wants to see all of us love God and listen to her Son. She helps us to do this in any way she can. Mary is a Mediatrix of graces, meaning that she dispenses graces to us that God gives to her for this purpose. Mary is the person closest to God. No other human was as close to Jesus as she was, as she is. The love and care Jesus shows to Mary is an example of how we can also show her love and respect. 

So we go to Her since she is the Mother of the Jesus who told us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (our school motto), then Mary our Mother, will surely help us follow that Way to the Truth of eternal Life. 

“Saint Mary, assumed into heaven, may your life with God, body and soul, be our goal. May we see your quiet devotion to God and the Church as an example to be followed, a target to be aimed at, and a destiny that awaits the serious Christian who emulates your subtle virtues”. Amen.