The "Maximizers" and the "Minimizers".
Over the centuries Mary has suffered at the hands of both those who have tried to maximize or minimize her role in the Christian life.
The maximizers have tried to put her on equal footing with Jesus calling her "co-redemptrix", a title rejected by Vatican II. How could someone who was fully human be another redeemer alongside Jesus, who was both divine and human? The maximizers also tend to give Mary a superior role to Jesus in their prayer life. They will also manufacture, sell and buy images of Mary and write songs about her that are so saccharine that they ought to contain a warning such as: "Dangerous to your spiritual health."
On the other hand, we have people, the minimizers, who distort the true image of Mary by consigning her to the galaxy of the saints and "other good people." The fact that Mary was the Mother of the God-Man Jesus, seems unimportant to them. Some groups of minimizers object to Mary as a role model for women because they see her as overly docile and only too willing to walk three steps behind the men in her life. Mary was, indeed, docile to the Word of God; but, Mary was no weak or saccharine type person. She had to be a very strong woman of faith to cope with all the crosses that she was given in the course of her life.
Devotion to Mary
The heart of devotion to Mary and Marian spirituality does not consist primarily in particular prayers to Mary but rather in "doing what Jesus tells us" (Jn 2:5). The true devotees of Mary are those who listen to the Word of God and allow it to transform their lives. Catholics believe and understand (though we may not always express it well) that Jesus alone is our intercessor and mediator before God. We know that he alone can grant us blessings and grace; but, just as all believers share in the High Priesthood of Jesus (1 Peter 2:5), all share in his intercessory and mediatory role. We join our prayers to those of Jesus and ask him to bless us, protect us, guide us, etc. If we do not hesitate to ask sinful brothers and sisters on earth to intercede for us, surely we shouldn't hesitate to ask Mary, the pre-eminent member of our community, to intercede for us. The only difference between Mary's prayer for us and other people's prayer is that Mary's prayer on our behalf is exceedingly more powerful because of her closeness to God. The power of Mary's intercession is seen at the Wedding Feast of Cana when Mary interceded with Jesus on behalf of a young couple. Because of Mary's intercession, Jesus worked his first miracle even though "his hour had not yet come" (John 2:4).
Finally, Catholic talk about "praying to" Mary should always be translated as asking Mary "to pray for us." In the "Hail Mary" we pray: "Holy Mary, pray for us sinners..." Catholics worship God alone. We honor Mary because God honored her in choosing her from among all women to be the mother of our Redeemer. Mary is God's masterpiece. In singing the praises of Mary we are singing the praises of God who did great things in and through her. Surely, we shouldn't think that God is in any way slighted because we love and venerate his Son's mother.
The Hail Mary
The best-known and loved Marian prayer is the "Hail Mary". Non-Catholics are usually surprised when they realize that the first part of the "Hail Mary" is taken directly from Scripture.
Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women (Luke 1:28)
And Blessed is the fruit
of your womb (Luke 1:42) Jesus.
The church composed the second part of the "Hail Mary":
Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen
The Rosary
The origin of the Rosary is not easy to pinpoint. The popular legend that St. Dominic (1170-1221) received the Rosary from Mary is hard to substantiate. Most historians believe the Rosary developed slowly during a time-span stretching possibly from the 1100's to 1569, when Pope Pius V officially approved of this form of devotion to Mary. The 150 Hail Mary's correspond to 150 psalms. The faithful, unable to read, started to pray a 150 Ave Maria's. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, a monk divided the 150 Ave Maria's into 15 decades, each decade preceded by the Lord's Prayer. The fifteen decades are subdivided into five joyful, five sorrowful and five glorious mysteries of the Rosary.
The Rosary is a Christ-centered and biblically-based prayer, prayed in honor of Mary. It is Christ-centered and biblically-based because during the Rosary we meditate with Mary on Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious, events in the life of Jesus. Thirteen of the fifteen "mysteries" of the Rosary are mentioned in the Bible.
For more information on the Rosary go to our book store located at the back of church or St. Joseph's Religious Crafts on Babcock Street, telephone 725-2284.
He Prayed The Rosary
One hundred years ago a university student found himself beside a man who seemed to be a well-to-do peasant. The man was praying the rosary. The student asked, "Sir, why do you believe in such an outdated thing? Why don't you throw your rosary out the window and use your time to study science?" "Science? You think I do not understand science? Perhaps you can teach me." The student said, "Sure, I'll help you, give me your name and address and I'll send you some literature."
The man fumbled in the pocket of his coat and finally found one of his cards. Upon glancing at the card, the student bowed his head in shame and became silent. The card read: "Louis Pasteur, Director of the Institute of Scientific Research, Paris."
Statues & Medals of Mary
For Catholics, statues, images and medals of Mary are visible reminders of someone very special in our spiritual lives. If we can carry pictures of loved ones in our wallets and place them on the walls of our homes and offices, then surely it is okay for us to have visible reminders of the most perfect Christian who ever lived. If we lay wreaths before our national heroes surely it is right for us to lay a wreath or bouquet before Mary, the Mother of our Redeemer. Catholics kneel and pray before statues as a mark of respect. But we do not intend to worship statues, nor do we believe that statues have any spiritual power in or of themselves.
Apparitions of Mary
In the Bible, we read how God sometimes sent angels to earth to deliver his message to people. In the Gospel, we read how Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus and the Apostles on Mount Tabor (Matt. 17:1-8). Also, the Apostles' faith in the Resurrection of Jesus was built up by the several appearances of Jesus to his disciples. Hence, we shouldn't be surprised if God continues to send heavenly messengers to earth to speak his Word and encourage us in our journey to him.
Usually, the "visitations" of Mary have a biblical pattern to them. Mary appears to poor, simple and humble people. Following the apparition(s), there is a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit which leads to a multitude of conversions, healings, joy and a spirit of praise. Mary's message is usually about the need for Prayer, Repentance and Conversion. Within seven years of Mary's apparition to Juan Diego in Guadalupe, Mexico, eight million native Indians were converted and baptized.
This aspect of Catholic life and devotion belongs to the realm of private revelation. The "contents" of private revelations are not an essential part of our Catholic faith. Catholics do not have to believe in apparitions or their messages even when the church approves of a particular apparition. When the church gives her official approval to a particular apparition, she is saying two things: there is nothing in the message that contradicts Catholic faith and, hence, if these teachings are followed, they will lead to our sanctification. Secondly, the Church is publicly declaring that the location of the apparition is a legitimate place to go on a pilgrimage.
After Joseph found out that Mary was with child, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him "not to be afraid to take Mary into his home" (Matt. 1:20). Neither should we hesitate to take Mary into our homes and hearts and to ask her to befriend us and pray for us as we seek to follow in the footsteps of her son, Jesus.
Most of the above is excerpts from my four page bulletin on: Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Our Mother. For a copy of the full bulletin go to our web page or get one in the parish office.