26 January 2011: Mary, Mother of unity

Through the intercession of Our Lady, the Church prays to God for the unity of Christians and of all mankind, that they may be gathered into the one people of the new Covenant. (cf “Roman Missal”, “Opening Prayer”)

The Church believes that the cause of unity is intimately related to the spiritual maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary over all men and women, especially those who have been baptized. (cf Leo XIII, Encyclical, “Auditricem populi”, 5 September 1895)

Pope Paul VI customarily prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title, “Mother of unity”. (cf Paul VI, “Insegnamenti”, vol II, p69)

Pope John Paul II offered to Our Lady this prayer: “You, who are the first Handmaid of the unity of Christ’s Body, help us, all the faithful who feel so keenly the tragedy of the historical divisions of Christianity, to seek persistently the path to the perfect unity of the Body of Christ through unreserved fidelity to the Spirit of Truth and Love ...” (cf John Paul II, “Radio message commemorating the Council of Ephesus”, 7 June 1981)

The Church was born with Christ and she ‘grew up’ in the house of Nazareth with Christ. Mary is the Mother of the Church from the Church’s beginnings. (Paul VI, “Discourse to the Council”, 21 September 1964) We Christians form one Body, and Mary is the Mother of the Mystical Body.

The Church as the Mystical Body of Christ finds in the Incarnation the primary reason for unity: in Mary’s womb. “She received your Word in the purity of her heart, and, conceiving in her virgin womb, gave birth to our Saviour, and so nurtured the Church at its very beginning.” (“Roman Missal”, “Preface”)

Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:57-8

Memorial: Ss Timothy and Titus, bishops

(+97) St Timothy was the son of a pagan father and a Hebrew-Christian mother, Eunice. A disciple of St Paul whom he accompanied in evangelizing many cities. St Paul consecrated him bishop of Ephesus. According to a fourth century story, he was beaten to death by a mob when he opposed the observance of a pagan festival.

St Titus was also a friend and disciple of St Paul who ordained him bishop of Crete. He attended the Council of Jerusalem with Sts Paul and Barnabas. He died on 105, almost a centenarian. Three pastoral letters St Paul wrote to these two disciples give glimpses of the future structure of the Church.

Ref: Fr James Socias, et al (Eds) “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1464

Protecting the deposit of faith

From her earliest days the Church has taught the truths of the faith to her children in a clear and simple style to avoid possible confusion. We see this practice at work in these words of St Paul to St Timothy:

“As I urged you, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies which promote speculations rather than the divine training that is in the faith.” (cf 1 Tim 1:3-4)

“Catechists must have the wisdom to pick from the field of theological research those points that can provide light for their own reflection and teaching, drawing like the theologians, from the true sources, in light of the Magisterium. They must refuse to trouble the minds of children and young people with outlandish theories, useless questions and unproductive discussions, things that St Paul often condemned in his pastoral letters.” (John Paul II, “Catechesis tradendae”, 16 October 1979, 61)

Teachers of the faith must teach the truths of the faith, not personal theories or doubts. People who seek to adapt truths of the faith to the ‘modern world’ revise catechetical teaching methods and result in changing the revealed truth.

A great many weeds have been sown among the good wheat. Mixed in with good and laudable messages, we sometimes find subtle and vicious attacks on Catholic doctrine regarding faith and morals. Teachers of error have increased in number and cultural influence.

Pope Paul VI called this phenomenon a ‘brutal and universal earthquake’ (cf Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation, “Petrum et Paulum”, 22 February 1967): ‘earthquake’ due to its subversive impact; ‘brutal’ since it is aimed directly at fundamental truths; and ‘universal’ because the phenomenon can be found worldwide. (cf P Rodriguez, “Faith and Life of Faith”, Pamplona, 1974)

The faith is a great treasure. We must conserve it in ourselves and in those around us. We must be humble as we treat the contagion; prudent about what we read.

In Roman law, ‘depositum’ refers to goods entrusted by one person to another with the understanding that they will be returned intact on request. (cf “The Navarre Bible”, note to 1 Tim, 6:20) St Paul applied this legal term to truths of Revelation and this is how it entered into Catholic teaching.

Truths of the faith, entrusted by one generation to another, are not the product of human reason; but proceed directly from God. Whoever ignores the teachings of the Magisterium can only provide the teachings of men which can undermine the faith and put at risk one’s salvation.

Over the centuries the Church has carefully defined dogmas of the faith often due to major religious crises of doctrinal controversy and confusion. These dogmas are like buoys that mark limits of safe navigation at sea.

“The preacher of the Gospel will therefore, be a person who, even at the price of personal renunciation and suffering, always seeks the truth that he must transmit to others. He never betrays or hides truth out of a desire to please men, in order to astonish or shock, nor for the sake of originality or a desire to make an impression.” (Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation, “Evangelii nuntiandi”, 8 December 1975, 78)

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:76-80

Purity -- “When we were little, we kept close to our mother in a dark alley or if dogs barked at us.

“Now, when we feel temptations of the flesh, we should run to the side of Our Mother in Heaven, by realising how close she is to us, and by means of aspirations.

“She will defend us and lead us to the light.”

Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 847

“May I give you some advice for you to put into practice daily? When your heart makes you feel those low cravings, say slowly to the Immaculate Virgin: ‘Look on me with compassion. Don’t abandon me, my Mother.’ And recommend this prayer to others.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 849)

Our Lady of Longchamps, founded in 1261, by Elizabeth, sister of St. Louis. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)

Our Lady of Long Fields (Longchamps). Madrid / France. 1261. ["...founded in 1261, by Elizabeth, sister of St. Louis. (Gallia Christiana, t. 4)."]; (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)

Our Lady of Long Fields (France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)

Our Lady of Long Fields, Madrid, Spain (1261). (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html)