Preparatory Reading for our Marian Retreat, February 5
Mary’s Role: bringing others to Jesus
From the earliest days of Christianity, the Blessed Virgin Mary has played a prominent role in salvation history. She has been a primary channel for conversion, through whom people receive Christ and experience his healing power.
Mary intercedes for us as Mother
At Nazareth, Mary's fiat-her willing ―yes‖—to becoming the Mother of God (Luke 1:26-30) led to the humble stable of Bethlehem, where she mediated to the world Jesus, the instrument of salvation (Luke 2:1-20). At Cana, Mary instructed the wine steward—instructs Christians of every era—to ―Do whatever he tells you‖ (John 2:1-11). In doing so, she initiated Jesus’ public ministry and first miracle. She also foreshadowed her role as advocate for God’s people, who are represented by the need of the wedding party. In the upper room at Pentecost, Mary was actively involved in another birth, that of the Christian Church, Christ’s Body. St. Luke intentionally singles her out as praying ―with one mind‖ with the apostles (Acts 1:14, 2:1-4). The result was the Holy Spirit overshadowing the apostles as he did earlier to the Virgin at the Annunciation, giving them courage to preach Jesus to the ends of the earth. Catholics see the Pentecost event as foundational for understanding Mary as ―Mother of the Church‖ (Catechism of the Catholic Church #975). Indeed, Jesus Himself, gives us Mary as our spiritual Mother from the Cross when he says to John, his beloved disciple, (another symbol of God’s beloved Church): ―Behold your mother.‖ John from that moment ―took her into his home‖ (19:27). We too, should take our Lady into our hearts and homes through reverent devotion and, in particular, through total consecration to her.
The Curious Story of Alphonse Ratisbonne
One of the most phenomenal conversions wrought by the hand of Mary was that of Alphonse Ratisbonne on January 20, 1842. Alphonse was a Jewish agnostic who disdained Christianity. A Catholic friend convinced him to agree to an ―experiment.‖ Alphonse would wear the Miraculous Medal and recite the Memorare prayer and see what would or would not happen. Soon after, the Virgin appeared to him in a brilliant light at San Andrea delle Fratte Church in Rome. Alphonse received such an infusion of grace and knowledge that he instantly became a believer and was able to receive baptism ten days later without catechesis. He later became a priest and missionary in the Holy Land. Eighty years later, St. Maximilian Kolbe offered his first Mass at the altar of Our Lady of the Miracle, before this miraculous image.
Mary’s Role: bringing others to Jesus
From the earliest days of Christianity, the Blessed Virgin Mary has played a prominent role in salvation history. She has been a primary channel for conversion, through whom people receive Christ and experience his healing power.
Mary intercedes for us as Mother
At Nazareth, Mary's fiat-her willing ―yes‖—to becoming the Mother of God (Luke 1:26-30) led to the humble stable of Bethlehem, where she mediated to the world Jesus, the instrument of salvation (Luke 2:1-20). At Cana, Mary instructed the wine steward—instructs Christians of every era—to ―Do whatever he tells you‖ (John 2:1-11). In doing so, she initiated Jesus’ public ministry and first miracle. She also foreshadowed her role as advocate for God’s people, who are represented by the need of the wedding party. In the upper room at Pentecost, Mary was actively involved in another birth, that of the Christian Church, Christ’s Body. St. Luke intentionally singles her out as praying ―with one mind‖ with the apostles (Acts 1:14, 2:1-4). The result was the Holy Spirit overshadowing the apostles as he did earlier to the Virgin at the Annunciation, giving them courage to preach Jesus to the ends of the earth. Catholics see the Pentecost event as foundational for understanding Mary as ―Mother of the Church‖ (Catechism of the Catholic Church #975). Indeed, Jesus Himself, gives us Mary as our spiritual Mother from the Cross when he says to John, his beloved disciple, (another symbol of God’s beloved Church): ―Behold your mother.‖ John from that moment ―took her into his home‖ (19:27). We too, should take our Lady into our hearts and homes through reverent devotion and, in particular, through total consecration to her.
The Curious Story of Alphonse Ratisbonne
One of the most phenomenal conversions wrought by the hand of Mary was that of Alphonse Ratisbonne on January 20, 1842. Alphonse was a Jewish agnostic who disdained Christianity. A Catholic friend convinced him to agree to an ―experiment.‖ Alphonse would wear the Miraculous Medal and recite the Memorare prayer and see what would or would not happen. Soon after, the Virgin appeared to him in a brilliant light at San Andrea delle Fratte Church in Rome. Alphonse received such an infusion of grace and knowledge that he instantly became a believer and was able to receive baptism ten days later without catechesis. He later became a priest and missionary in the Holy Land. Eighty years later, St. Maximilian Kolbe offered his first Mass at the altar of Our Lady of the Miracle, before this miraculous image.
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