Saint Michael Center - Catholic Teachings

TENDER MOTHER AND POWERFUL QUEEN

The cross was raised. The Blessed Mother, firm and motionless, remained at the feet of her crucified Son and assisted Him during His long agony without a sign of weakness or discouragement. Darkness began to extend a dense veil over all nature. The frightened birds flew screeching to their nests and a sense of terror pervaded the onlookers. Little by little Calvary was deserted, only soldiers on duty, some priests, who still continued to insult Jesus, and a group of pious women remained. Magdalen and St. John were near Mary at the foot of the cross and shared her agony of heart. Jesus was crucified between two thieves. What a humiliation for His mother to see Him treated the same as Dismas and Germas! And yet she, as Refuge of Sinners, was already praying for him. These three hours were hours of painful agony for Jesus without alleviation of any kind. All at once the voice of dying Jesus broke the somber silence of Calvary: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34); and in that hour so sorrowful and solemn, that voice, so familiar to Mary, pierced her heart as a sword. Jesus was praying for His crucifiers, and His mother, his prayer around for them and for the sinners. Mary, the greatest masterpiece from the hands of God, was crowned in heaven by her Son. Jesus exalted His most holy mother’s virtues, tore the veil under which splendors of her privileges had been hidden and clothed His immaculate dove with light and immorality. Therefore, our dear and sweet mother, after guiding the infant Church with real motherly solicitude, was carried into heaven, exalted above the choirs of angels and crowned by Jesus Himself as Queen of heaven and earth. But if to us she appears so great in her glory, she remains, however, the same humble virgin, the merciful mother of her exile children. What a great consolation it is for us to know that she is our Mother and Queen. An earthly mother, even though she may greatly love her children and may desire to satisfy their every desire, is at times powerless to do so. Mary, however, possesses the keys with which she can open at pleasure Jesus’ heart, and when her title of Mother might not be sufficient to make her divine son bend to her wishes, she can easily use her title of Queen, certain of being heard. Let us unite ourselves to Mary. Her glory does not separate her from us and she is always our sweetest mother of the joys of Bethlehem and of Nazareth. She just asks us to abandon ourselves trustingly to her care, with an ardent desire to lover her without limits and without measure. Just as a drop of water is lost in the ocean, so should we lose ourselves in Mary. “One night, greatly upset, I returned home later than usual. “ ‘Mother,’ I exclaimed, surprised at finding her still up. “’Billy,’ she said, with her eyes brimming over with tears but with a sweet smile on her lips, “If you leave me you will give your new address, won’t you? Because I will come to visit you.’ Then, taking advantage of the occasion, authoritatively but at the same time with motherly love she added; ‘No one, no one, my son, has ever cried for you as much as your mother. No one has ever loved you and loves you more than she. If you abandon me, Billy, remember that in your hour of need I am here and that I am always your mother…’” Humanity has need of a maternal heart, because at all ages it feels the imperious need of emptying into it, with unlimited trust, all its anxieties. Jesus Himself wanted a mother, and He had her with Him from His infancy to Calvary. Then, from the Cross, our Redeemer showed us His comprehension and infinite love. Seeing us still alone and lost, fearful and sad with out a mother in whom we could seed refuge and to whom we could appeal, He gave us Mary as our mother. Every follower of Jesus can repeat, “ Yes, Mary is my mother.” Mary is truly your mother who loves you and who proved her hove when she consented to undergo for you, together with Jesus, all His sufferings. Mary loves you as much as and even more than your own earthly mother, because you were entrusted to her by the dying Jesus.

-by Rev. Anselm J. Viano, S.S.P.: Queen of Apostles Seminary, Derby, New York

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St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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