The marks of honor and distinction our Saviour had given to St Peter aroused the jealousy of the other Apostles. Jesus, who “saw their thoughts” (Lk 9:47), wished to correct them. “‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ But they were silent; they had argued who among them was the greatest.” (cf Mk 9:33-4)
We are horrified by the Apostles’ conduct. ‘Their Master had just been telling them of the cruel death he was about to suffer; but it made no impression on them? Were they so selfish as to have no thought for him, but only for their own miserable ambition?’
Our indignation is natural; but we would judge them more leniently if we think of the weakness of human nature, especially of our own. Have we often yielded to thoughts of ambition and vainglory after meditating on the humiliations of our Lord?Or knelt humbly in the confessional, and then immediately lost our temper?
Ambition, like any other passion, is ingenious in concealing its aim as the Apostles did. They asked Jesus a general question: ‘Who is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?’ Jesus knew their motive, but not wishing to rebuke them too severely, merely said, “Whoever wants to be first must be the very last and make himself the servant of all” (cf Mk 9:35).
We all wish to be great in the sight of God. Jesus Christ here shows how: by making ourselves ‘little’. By God’s grace would we know if we have attained this?
Can we still keep our peace and joy of heart when slighted? Are we glad when given the meanest job; when, as Jesus says, we are ‘the servant of all’?
The Apostles, absorbed in earthly greatness, could not understand what Jesus taught them. He “called a little child, set him in the midst of the disciples, and said, ‘I assure you, unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” (cf Mt 18:2-4)
To please God, we must have a share of his special grace and love, by which we obtain this childhood of the spirit, and become in virtue what children in nature are-- pure, simple, humble, gentle, obedient. This is not easy. We shall not become so without generous and persevering efforts. Are we making such efforts?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp575-7
Mary is ‘Mediatrix’ before the Mediator
St Paul teaches, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Tim 2:5-6). The Blessed Virgin cooperated in an extraordinary way in her Son’s work of redemption.
According to St Thomas Aquinas, it was as if God the Father had been waiting for humanity’s assent through the voice of Mary. (“Summa Theologiae”, 3, q30, a1) By reason of her divine maternity, Mary is intimately united to the mystery of the Redemption.
On Calvary Mary uniquely participated in the suffering and death of her Son. From his throne on the Cross, Jesus deigned to give Mary to the Apostle John, representing all mankind. This explains the reasoning behind the constant teaching of the Church, as most recently defined by the Second Vatican Council--
“The maternal duty of Mary toward men in no wise obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows his power.” (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 60) She is the ‘Mediatrix’ before the ‘Mediator’.
Pope John Paul II has stated: “Mary’s mediation is intimately linked with her motherhood. It possesses a specifically maternal character, which distinguishes it from the mediation of the other creatures who in various and always subordinate ways share in the one mediation of Christ, although her own mediation is also a shared mediation.” (“Redemptoris Mater”, 25 March 1987, 38)
“In no way does it impede, but rather foster the immediate union of the faithful with Christ.” (Second Vatican Council, op cit, 61)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 5:99-100
Mediatrix of All Graces
A mediator’s job is to bring together, or at least to open communication between, two distant parties. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, is the only and perfect mediator between God and men (cf 1 Tim 2:5). But this does not keep the saints, Christians in general, and most particularly, our Lady from acting as mediators.
“Every saving help by the blessed Virgin in favor of mankind is not demanded by any law, but rather is born of her goodwill and superabundance of Christ’s merits.” (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 60)
Ref: Francis Fernandez-Carvajal and Peter Beteta, “Children of God”, 1997, pp65-6
Rosary devotion
Just before the start of the 19th century, on board a train headed for Paris was a young soldier obviously bored by the long ride. He was sitting opposite an old man quite content with praying the rosary.
The soldier blurted out toward the old man: “God isn’t going to save our world, science is!” The latter merely smiled and nodded, continuing his prayer.
Provoked by the old man’s nonchalance, the young man launched a tirade on the marvels of science in business and medicine. Declaring religion to be dying out as the light of science came in, he continued his attack until the train reached the Paris terminal.
As the soldier stood up, he felt sorry for the old man. Trying to sound kinder, he introduced himself. The old man shook the soldier’s hand and reached into his vest for a card. The soldier accepted the card. As the old man walked away, the soldier read the card: “Dr Louis Pasteur, Academy of Science, Paris”
The young man felt totally humiliated. He had just been heaping abuses on one of the greatest scientists of Europe: the discoverer of the rabies vaccine and pasteurization (named after the scientist), a process to destroy disease-causing bacteria in milk.
Apart from Pasteur’s deep sense of humility was his personal devotion to the holy rosary.
Ref: cf Fr Bel R San Luis, SVD, “Word Alive”, “Manila Bulletin”, 7 October 1995
Our Lady of Hildesheim, in the duchy of Brunswick, Germany. An image is there venerated, which Louis the Meek always wore about him. One day, when he had forgotten it in a wood, it became so heavy that it was impossible to remove it, which made the king resolve to build a church there. — Triple Couronne, n. 75. “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com) [11th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)]
Our Lady of Hildesheim, Germany (11th Century).(www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Atocha (“The 2002 Catholic Directory of the Philippines”, p90)
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