The prologue of the Gospel of Luke affirms that Saint Luke the Evangelist himself was dependent upon the traditions that he received from the eyewitnesses and ministers of the word to write the gospel (USCCB, 2023). He chronicles Mary as a person who treasured the words of the shepherds (Luke 2.17-19), of Simeon (Luke 2.25-35), of Anna (Luke 2.36-38), and even of Jesus (Luke 2.49) and the deeds related to his life she pondered them in her heart (Luke 2.19). A similar act of Mary is recorded in the narration of the boy Jesus Found in the Temple in the same chapter: “…and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2.51). Her treasuring was a spiritually significant event for the nascent church. It was preserved by the Second Vatican Council (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 57) as the tradition inscribed it in the gospel. This respectful treasuring of Mary, hints at the possible tradition of the early Christian Church community to reflect on the events in the life of Jesus through Christified (Christ-centred) contemplation on the salvific events that infused hope in the hearts of Christ’s followers. This act of treasuring provided the Christian community with spiritual sustenance amidst an environment of disharmony, suffering, and persecution. Drawing insights from Mary’s spiritual act of treasuring, we are inspired to live a life today focused on Christ. During times of spiritual distraction in our lives that include desolation, Mary comes to us as a mentor, spiritual guide, and an ideal source of help. Her treasuring draws us to solely invest our attention on Christ. Amidst moments of disappointment, self-doubt, and anxiety, we could courageously hold on to Mary’s helping hand.
Text of Pope’s prayer to Mary during the coronavirus pandemic:
O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
The Second Vatican Council urges the theologians and preachers of the Word of God to refrain from false exaggeration in considering the special dignity of the Mother of God (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 67). It further adds, “Let the faithful remember moreover that true devotion consists neither in sterile or feeling, nor in empty credulity, but proceeds from true faith, by which we are led to recognize the excellence of the Mother of God and we are moved to a filial love towards our mother and to the imitation of her virtues” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 67).
The prologue of the Gospel of Luke affirms that Saint Luke the Evangelist himself was dependent upon the traditions that he received from the eyewitnesses and ministers of the word to write the gospel (USCCB, 2023). He chronicles Mary as a person who treasured the words of the shepherds (Luke 2.17-19), of Simeon (Luke 2.25-35), of Anna (Luke 2.36-38), and even of Jesus (Luke 2.49) and the deeds related to his life she pondered them in her heart (Luke 2.19). A similar act of Mary is recorded in the narration of the boy Jesus Found in the Temple in the same chapter: “…and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2.51). Her treasuring was a spiritually significant event for the nascent church. It was preserved by the Second Vatican Council (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 57) as the tradition inscribed it in the gospel. This respectful treasuring of Mary, hints at the possible tradition of the early Christian Church community to reflect on the events in the life of Jesus through Christified (Christ-centred) contemplation on the salvific events that infused hope in the hearts of Christ’s followers. This act of treasuring provided the Christian community with spiritual sustenance amidst an environment of disharmony, suffering, and persecution. Drawing insights from Mary’s spiritual act of treasuring, we are inspired to live a life today focused on Christ. During times of spiritual distraction in our lives that include desolation, Mary comes to us as a mentor, spiritual guide, and an ideal source of help. Her treasuring draws us to solely invest our attention on Christ. Amidst moments of disappointment, self-doubt, and anxiety, we could courageously hold on to Mary’s helping hand.
Text of Pope’s prayer to Mary during the coronavirus pandemic:
O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
https://adw.org/text-of-popes-prayer-to-mary-during-coronavirus-pandemic/
The Second Vatican Council urges the theologians and preachers of the Word of God to refrain from false exaggeration in considering the special dignity of the Mother of God (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 67). It further adds, “Let the faithful remember moreover that true devotion consists neither in sterile or feeling, nor in empty credulity, but proceeds from true faith, by which we are led to recognize the excellence of the Mother of God and we are moved to a filial love towards our mother and to the imitation of her virtues” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 67).