The cardinal of Sarajevo, Vinko Puljic, said that the Holy See will make an official statement about the supposed apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Medjugorje. These sightings of Mary have been happening since 1981 to six people. The news story is seen here. This is a welcomed and necessary pastoral development.
Recently in Blessed Virgin Mary Category
In danger, in distress, in uncertainty, think of Mary, call upon Mary. She never leaves your lips, she never departs from your heart; and so that you may obtain the help of her prayers, never forget the example of her life. If you follow her, you cannot falter; if you pray to her, you cannot despair; if you think of her, you cannot err. If she sustains you, you will not stumble; if she protects you, you have nothing to fear; if she guides you, you will flag; if she is favorable to you, you will attain your goal....
(Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Hom. II super Missus est, 17: PL 183, 70-71.)
Until recently I really didn't pay too much attention to "new apparitions" of the Blessed Mother. I had all I can do to maintain what knew or to explore what I wanted what I felt I needed to know about some of the trends in Marian devotion. One more apparition of the BVM, even if current and seemingly well-practiced, is not always interesting to me because of a perception that yet another devotion to the Virgin Mary is creeping its way onto my plate without ecclesial approval. Skepticism may be from the devil. I have raised the question about the truthfulness of this appearance of the BVM. But as Providence would have, the apparitions of Mary from Medjugorje have found me. A few people have written to me in the past suggesting that I have misread the situation (perhaps I have) in a place like Medjugorje. Now I have a friend, a Franciscan sister, keeping me informed on Marian visits. It's all helpful, indeed and I appreciate the feedback.
Reading the Catholic news services this morning I noticed an article saying that the Bosnian cardinal, Vinko Puljic, thinks someone at the Holy See (the pope?) is going issue a directive on Medjugorje's claim on the BVM making frequent visits there since the early 1980s. It is only speculation at this point that the Holy See will say anything soon, but I do think he's right in asking for such a directive to appear for pastoral reasons. A little more guidance from the Holy See would be extremely helpful. An evaluation of what has happened and what is happening could set the record straight and help direct a reasonable pastoral response. Throwing clichés and acidic words around on matters of doctrine, people involved and spiritual practice is tantamount to spiritual malpractice. Plus, fidelity to the teaching office of the Catholic Church is essential for true Catholics. I just hope the Holy See takes Cardinal Puljic's suggestion.
O God, Whose only-begotten Son by His life, death and resurrection hath purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation, grant we beseech Thee, that meditating on these mysteries in the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise.I want to recommend Ruth Rees's The Rosary in Space and Time which is an accessible and exceptional look into the most important devotional prayers we have: the Rosary. She explores the biblical, liturgical, and practical dimensions of the rosary. A convert from Judaism and a professional actress and writer, Rees brings us (me) to a deeper appreciation of this compendium of the Gospels.
Father, as your Son was raised on the cross, his
mother Mary stood by him, sharing his sufferings. May your Church be united
with Christ in his suffering and death and so come to share in his rising to
new life, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen.
Today's feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary follows
yesterday's feast of the Triumph of the Cross. As the liturgical year
progresses we see some things change in the liturgical atmosphere as we
prepare, believe it or not, for the end of the liturgical year: our focus on
the Paschal Mystery of the Lord (i.e., the life, death, resurrection &
ascension of the Lord) becomes more present to us.
Liturgically the Church dedicates
a day to the spiritual martyrdom of Mary, Jesus' own mother. The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows has not only a spiritual depth but a real human one: it strikes at the core of our heart. What human being goes through life
without some sort of pain? Like all mothers, Mary was wounded and pained at
various times in her life by the absence of her son and the pain and death he
had to suffer. No mother delights in her child's misery, no mother sits by
while her child's humanity is in jeopardy. Consider what the mothers of
soldiers go through waiting for her son or daughter to return from war. Imagine
the terrible, heart wrenching pain that many mothers felt when they were told
their child was killed in Iraq. I know of the pain my own paternal grandmother faced when her son was killed in a car accident more than 40 years ago; a pain that never truly healed nor spoken of...
The feast we observe today reminds us of the
humanity of not only Mary, but of Jesus. For as we know, Mary always points to
her son: the cross brought incredible suffering for Jesus while it saved all of
humanity by trampling down sin and death; Careful observing the suffering as Mary did requires our attention, too,
because Christ saved us in and through our humanity. This point is driven home
countless times a day as I walk past a replica of Michelangelo's Pieta (see the pic above); I am
confronted with the sorrowing Mother Mary holding the dead body of her son in
her arms, the very arms which cuddled him as an infant.
The Cistercian monks
and Servite friars have given the Church an apt liturgical feast to indicate
the depth of humanity Mary had in standing by her son, an experience foretold
by Simeon. The feast has also be called Our Lady of Compassion, yet another
intersection of theology and human reality.
Here are the seven sorrows of
Mary:
The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
The flight into Egypt (Matthew
2:13-15)
Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
Mary meets Jesus
on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
Crucifixion and Death of
Jesus (John 19:25-30)
The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130;
Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56;
John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)
Stabat Mater dolorosa iuxta crucem lacrimosa, dum pendebat Filius. | The grieving Mother stood beside the cross weeping where her Son was hanging. |
Cuius animam gementem contristatam et dolentem pertransivit gladius. | Through her weeping soul, compassionate and grieving, a sword passed. |
O quam tristis et afflicta fuit illa benedicta mater Unigeniti! | O how sad and afflicted was that blessed Mother of the Only-begotten! |
Quae maerebat et dolebat pia mater cum videbat nati poenas incliti. | Who mourned and grieved, the pious Mother, with seeing the torment of her glorious Son. |
Quis est homo qui non fleret, matrem Christi si videret in tanto supplicio? | Who is the man who would not weep if seeing the Mother of Christ in such agony? |
Quis non posset contristari, piam matrem contemplari dolentum cum Filio? | Who would not be have compassion on beholding the devout mother suffering with her Son? |
Pro peccatis suae gentis vidit Iesum in tormentis et flagellis subditum. | For the sins of His people she saw Jesus in torment and subjected to the scourge. |
Vidit suum dulcem Natum morientem, desolatum, cum emisit spiritum. | She saw her sweet Son dying, forsaken, while He gave up His spirit. |
Christe, cum sit hinc exire, da per matrem me venire ad palmam victoriae. Amen. | Christ, when it is henceforth in need to pass away, grant that through your Mother I may come to the palm of victory. Amen. |
You have been blessed, O Virgin Mary, above all other women on earth by the Lord, the Most High God, for God has so exalted your name that human lips will never cease to praise you.Lord our God, when Your Son was dying on the altar of the cross, he gave us as our mother the one he had chosen to be His own mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant that we who call upon the holy name of Mary, our mother, with confidence in her protection may receive strength and comfort in all our needs.
This feast was restored an optional memorial in our sacred Liturgy by the Servant of God Pope John Paul II when he published the 2002 Roman Missal (the translation is due out this century). The Preface of today's Mass is worth adding to our examination of conscience today and I highly recommend using the liturgical texts to assist us here. In part the Preface reads:
"... But by Your loving providence the name of the Virgin Mary also should echo and re-echo on the lips of the faithful people who turn to her with confidence as their star of hope, call on her as their mother in time of danger, and seek her protection in their hour of need."
The sentiments expressed by the Church's Liturgy ought to call to mind the venerable prayer of the Memorare in which we ask Mary in confidence to be at our side at all times. Those who remain close to Mary, the Mother of God are always helped.
A fitting look into a Marian apparition on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary at First Things, "What Happened at Medjugorje?" It's amazing that this "apparition" of the Blessed Virgin is getting a lot of press these days.
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