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Our Blessed Mother
John 19:25-27
When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, "Woman, he is your son." And he said to this disciple, "She is your mother." And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
The God of Israel is Jesus' Father (Matt. 11:27), while Mary became Jesus' human mother (Luke 1:43). This is why the Catholic Church calls Mary the "Mother of God" (CCC 495) since she is the mother of the second divine Person, God the Son. Mary is not a "Mother god" since she is only human - a creature of God. She is not the feminine side of God. Nor is she the mother of the Persons: God the Father or God the Holy Spirit. Jesus was not ashamed of claiming the God of Israel as His Father. He was accused of blasphemy and eventually died for this claim (John 5:18; 19: 7-8).
At the foot of the Cross there were his mother and the disciple John. Jesus knew that Mary was not the mother of John. And Jesus was not telling a lie from the Cross when he proclaimed Mary the mother of the disciple, and the disciple the son of his mother… on the contrary, Jesus was talking about a glorious truth: From the Cross, Jesus was giving us his Mother, to be our Mother. We were all represented at the foot of the Cross in the "disciple" on that day and beyond.
"The Mother of God!" Is there a special place in your heart for Mary?
For Motherhood that God Possesses? Where all Motherhood comes? She gave birth to Jesus, our Lord and Our God. She of all women was chosen. She tended to His earliest needs. The bond was pure love from God through Mary.
In His book Mary and Your Everyday Life, theologian Bernard Haring says: "The Church cannot come to a full understanding of union with Christ and service to the gospel without a profound love and knowledge of Mary, the Mother of our Lord and ourselves, " As Vatican II puts it: "At the message of the angel, the Virgin Mary received the Word of God in her heart and in her body, and gave life to the world. Hence, she is acknowledged and honored (Note# not to be worshiped) as being truly the Mother of God and Mother of the Redeemer" (The Church,53)
Mary is a tribute to all motherhood. The importance of a Mother to her child is a bond like none other. Jesus's bond to our Church can be seen in Mary. Eve said "no" to Gods will and brought forth death for the whole of the human race. Mary on the other hand said "Yes" to Gods will and brought forth life for the whole of the human race.
Mary represents the New Eve. Mary..our mother, who saw her own Son die for the rest of her children, is waiting and helping in the preparation of building us a new home in heaven.
(Mt 1:23): "Behold the virgin shall be with child and bear a son. And they shall name Him Emanuel," Which translated means "God is with us."
(Luke 1:43) Elizabeth calls her "Mother of my Lord." In the NT, "Lord" refers only to God.
(Luke 1:35) "the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God."
The angel calls her "full of grace," and one who has "found favor with God" (Lk 1:28, 30 RSVCE); Elisabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit calls her "blessed among women" and Mary herself declares that "all generations shall call me blessed"
In following Scripture, like Cupids arrow through our hearts, we will always love her and call Mary Blessed.
She has a very special home in our hearts, we along with the Saints and Mother Mary are all connected to the one Spirit, to the One Body of Christ ...the Vine.
Who is Mary in your life?
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I will begin this day
I thank you, Lord, for having preserved me during the night. I will do my best to make all I do today pleasing to You and in accordance with Your will. My dear mother Mary, watch over me this day. My Guardian Angel, take care of me. St. Joseph and all you saints of God, pray for me.
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father.
I wish to gain all the indulgences attached to the prayers I shall say and the good works I shall perform this day. Amen.
by the RCIA team 2004 Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Hyde Park - Utah
Updated by Richard Horrell / Lay Missionary Catholic RCIA 2019 -COPYRIGHT All rights reserved
Phone: 530-903-0121 Email: rchorrel@aol.com
Treasured Writing
Evangelization
- Isaiah 6:8b
