5 December 2012 Immaculate Conception Novena “All graces pass from God to Jesus, from Jesus to Mary, and from Mary to us.” -- St Bernardine of Siena (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, pp9, 10) Day 6 -- Mother Most Amiable Our Lady, when she consents to be the Mother of the Saviour, becomes the Mother of all men. Moreover, Mary’s spiritual maternity is superior to any human motherhood. By giving birth to Jesus, the Head of the Church, she spiritually begets each of us to be members in Christ’s Mystical Body. Beside the Lord nailed to the Cross, stand Mary, John the beloved disciple and some holy women. At this climactic moment the Lord speaks to the Blessed Virgin with words directed to each one of us: “‘Woman, behold thy son.’ Then to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother.’” (Jn 19:27) He offers to the Father his Mother’s suffering united with his own for the redemption of mankind. It moves us to see Jesus ignoring his sufferings and loneliness during the anguish of the Passion. His oblation is for the sake of all, the virtuous and hardened sinners. His immense love for Mary, whom he does not want to leave alone, still moves us today. Beside Mary, John personifies every single one of us. Christ gave us his Mother to be our own. He addresses each one of us directly: ‘Behold your Mother. Treat her well for me, and seek her intercession in all your needs. Be sure to take advantage of this most precious legacy I am leaving you.’ Motherhood inherently means care and vigilance for the children. Similarly, our Blessed Mother offers her spiritual protection to all. She intercedes and obtains the graces we all need. Just as Jesus is the Good Shepherd who “calls his sheep by name” (Jn 10:3), Mary loves each of us in a special way; knows us by our name. Every person is unique to her. Her maternal concern clothes our total wellbeing, body and soul. She leads us to sanctity, a more perfect identification with her Son. Our Lady is an excellent collaborator in the mission of the Holy Spirit who bestows on us supernatural life and grants us the grace to persevere in it. As a most excellent Mother she always greets us with a smile and friendly gesture. Her look inspires our confidence since she is ever inclined to understand the doubts of our heart. We can abandon all our pressing concerns to her intercession. Our Lady is supremely amiable and loved by all. “She is all things to all ... For the wise and the ignorant, she prepares the way through her most abundant charity. Her mercy is open to us all: Those held captive by sin are freed, the sick gain healing, the afflicted receive consolation; and all sinners obtain pardon.” (St Bernard, “Homily during the Octave of the Assumption”, 2) “As we move on as wayfarers in this world, her merciful eyes and arms shall await us in heaven one day. We are called to enjoy indissoluble union with the fruit of her womb, Jesus. He won eternal glory for his Mother and for all of us who approach her for assistance.” (cf L M Herran, “Our Mother in Heaven”, Madrid 1998) ‘Holy Mary, Mother most amiable, pray for them... pray for me.’ Teach me to love you a little more each day. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, In Conversation with God, 7:310-16 Let us go to the Blessed Virgin who will teach us to draw fruit from difficulty. ‘Cor Mariae perdolentis, miserere nobis!’ (Sorrowful heart of Mary, pray for us.) -- “Invoke the heart of holy Mary, with the purpose and determination of uniting yourself to her sorrow, in reparation for your sins and the sins of all men of all times. “And pray to her -- for every soul -- that her sorrow may increase in us our aversion from sin, and that we may be able to love the physical or moral contradictions of each day as a means of expiation.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 258) Does Mary really care for us? Undoubtedly! She cared for Jesus and Joseph, her devoted spouse. She cared for the Apostles and for all the new members of the rising Church. She continues to care for each and every one of us, her children. Bernadette was once asked, ‘At the Grotto of Lourdes, did Our Lady look only at you?’ She replied, ‘No, She looked at all the people, and with great affection; at times she seemed to look at them one by one, and her glance would rest on one or another as if she had recognized a friend.’ To know, love and serve God; to make Christ the Center of our spiritual life; to recognize the action of the Holy Spirit in the sanctification of our own souls, are all truths of our Faith. Devotion to Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother, is also essential in our spiritual life. Mary will help us to get closer to God; prepare us to receive all the graces we need from Jesus and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Blessed Virgin will make much easier our sanctification and our salvation. “The faithful must reverence the memory of the glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God and of Our Lord Jesus Christ. ... the Catholic Church taught by the Holy Spirit, honors her with filial affection and devotion as a most beloved mother. The Blessed Virgin is also intimately united to the Church; she is rightly honored by a special cult in the Church. ...” (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, Chapter VIII) Since Mary cares so much for us, we must love her tenderly, our sweet mother. Imitate her in our Christian life, in the acquisition of virtues and in doing good. We must believe in her powerful intercession with God. Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, p9 · “Whoever does not have a great love for the Mother of God cannot have a great love for her Son.” -- St Joseph Cafasso (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, pp9, 10) You can! 367 “Let us ask Jesus Christ that the fruits of his Redemption may grow abundantly in men’s hearts: more and more, ever more abundantly -- divinely abundantly! “And for this to be so, may he make us good children of his Blessed Mother.” Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge” • In the year 1584 was instituted the first sodality of Our Lady at the Jesuits’ college, at Rome, whence is derived their custom of establishing it in all their houses.— (Balingham on the Calendar.) “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (www.bethlehemobserver.com); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of the Jesuits College, Rome (1584). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)