Memorial of Saints (December 25)

St. Peter Nolasco inherited a fortune at 15 years of age when his father passed away. He used this wealth to ransom Christian prisoners from the Moors in southern Spain. From this missionary activity, together with St. Raymond of Peñafort, Peter decided to found the Order of Our Lady of Ransom (the Mercedarians). Papal approval for the Order came from Pope Gregory IX in 1235 A.D. The Mercedarians took a fourth religious vow - that of giving themselves, if necessary, in exchange for a slave (died ca. 1258 A.D.).

St. Anastasia of Sirmium was the daughter of a noble Roman and married a pagan. On the death of her husband, she went to Aquileia to minister to the Christians suffering from Diocletian's persecution of the Christians. She was eventually arrested for her Christian faith and was burned to death on the island of Palmaria. Anastasia has been venerated in Rome since the fifth century (died ca. 304 A.D.).

St. Eugenia was the daughter of a nobleman of Alexandria during the reign of Emperor Valerian. Because of the persecution of Christians during Valerian's reign, Eugenia dressed in male attire and fled to Heliopolis where she entered an abbey. She had trouble when she was accused and charged with adultery. Brought to court, she was exonerated of the charge by the magistrate, who fortunately was her father. When she took off her male attire and revealed herself to her father, Eugenia was able to convert her father to the Christian faith. She converted many others including her mother. Eugenia suffered martyrdom by sword for her faith in Christ (died ca. 257 A.D.).

4th Sunday of Advent (B)

(Edited) Reflections for 4th Sunday of Advent (B), December 18, 2011

Liturgical readings

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-11, 16
Psalm 89
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38

"For nothing will be impossible for God."

Faith and obedience to God is a virtue that is needed more in the present times. Even with all advancements in science and technology, the human heart has basically remained the same (still in need of redemption from God). All humanity inherited a heart from Adam and Eve - one that disobeyed God and chose to do what is against His will. But God did not give up on this disobedience. He chose Mary (conceived without sin - the Immaculate Conception), to bring back into the world the virtues of obedience, purity, faith and confidence in God. This simple maiden, this humble virgin from Nazareth, became the instrument by which God will place back in the heart of humanity His Word - a Word that speaks the golden rule, to lead us back to a life in union with God.

God's ways are above our own. And nothing is impossible with Him. From the human point of view, Mary's conceiving the Word as a virgin is both a miracle and a mystery (as with the conception of Elizabeth in her old age). If learned systems of logic are suspended, and a direction to trust in God is followed, (as exemplified by Mary), all can gradually practice the same virtues she practiced. To trust God in His Word, to trust God in His Church, and to trust God in the very ordinary circumstances all live and work in, is the mustard seed of faith that will eventually bear a fruitful harvest for each - the presence of Christ in our hearts and in our lives.

In Catholic devotion, Mary has a special role in the history of salvation. Her role was unique that Christians in both the Eastern and Western traditions naturally turn to her and devote their lives and their projects to God through her intercession. After Jesus, she is the most loved in prayer and spirituality. It was her who, "undid" the disobedience of Eve's heart (by her obedience). By Mary's faith in God's will, she bore Jesus, who also, "undid" the disobedience of Adam's heart (by His obedience unto death upon a Cross), and provided a path for all to follow - a path that can make humanity see the wisdom of following the golden rule in this life, so as to share in the eternal life Jesus promises.

Mary the Dawn, Christ the Perfect Day

An anonymous poet wrote a poem that speaks metaphorically of the relationship between Jesus and His mother Mary. This poem is one of the hymns suggested for the Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours' "Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary". The poem now exists in its edited form by the Dominican Sisters of Summit (1972). The poems reads as follows:

Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!
Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread;
Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!
Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!
Mary the temple, Christ the temple's Lord;
Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!
Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven's Rest;
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
Mary the mother, Christ the mother's Son
By all things blest while endless ages run. Amen.

In just fourteen lines, the anonymous poet gives us a glimpse of that deep mystery of the Incarnation. The poet uses symbols to express the relationship of the divine to the human. This is an excellent poem to meditate when there is an opportunity to strengthen devotion to Mary and Jesus, especially the twin hearts of Jesus and Mary (the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary).

Many theologians and scholars who study aspects of Marian devotion would want to see this poem also expressed in religious art. Some religious art portray only the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are statues or paintings which present Mary alone in the artist's presentation. Modern theologians and scholars would prefer that religious artists portray Mary and Jesus together in whatever medium they use (like Mary holding the Child Jesus in her arms, or like the sculptured image of the "Pieta"). This way of presenting Jesus and Mary in religious art will help the faithful really see (as in the poem) how Mary is related to the mission and ministry of Christ Jesus.

If the reader were to use his imagination to extend the above poem to more metaphors, then he can add his own personal spiritual insights to the poem mentioned above.

As an example, one can add:

Mary the ark, Christ the Rainbow's Promise
Mary the star, Christ the Newborn King
Mary the tree, Christ the Sacred Fruit
Mary the chalice, Christ the Eternal Spring
Mary the womb, Christ the Word Enfleshed
Mary the well, Christ the Living Water

In the books of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (Secret of Mary and True Devotion to Mary), one can find so many symbols and metaphors that also present the relationship of Jesus and Mary as in the poem given above. Montfort is an expert in presenting Mary as the best way to obtain Christ, the Eternal Wisdom of God. He attests to a part of the Litany of Mary where Mary is presented as the "Seat of Wisdom".

Sources of this blog post

• The Who's Who of Heaven: Saints for All Seasons, by Msgr. John P. Kleinz
• God Alone, by Montfort Publications, Inc.