Notes from May 25, 2014: Legion of Mary Spiritual Presentation by Father Antonio O. Moreno
Legion
of Mary Spiritual presentation
25
May 2014
Christ and Mary
1. Mary leads us to Jesus. We first have to respond to some fears and criticisms regarding Marian
piety. Many fear that Mary separates
believers from Christ. That she is in “competition” with Christ. That she
places herself as a “screen” between God and us. At the origin of that fear, there are usually
negative experiences caused by off-the-track practices of Marian piety or false
focuses on the person of Mary. Such
fears do not correspond to the reality desired by God and proclaimed by the
Church in her life and in her doctrine.
2. “Do
what He tells you (Jn. 2: 4).” St. Pope John Paul II said: “Mary was truly united to
Christ. Not many of her words are
preserved in the Bible, but these ones take us anew to her Son and to His Word.
At Cana of Galilee, she addressed the servants with these words: “Do whatever
He tells you.” She continues giving us
this same message.” “Do whatever He
tells you” are the last words of the Virgin preserved in the Gospel. They are, therefore, as if they were her
testament. They are words directed not
only to the servants at the wedding, but to men and women for all times. They contain the total desire, experience and
mission of Mary: to lead us to identify
with Christ.
3. Mary is at the center.
We all know; that Mary is not the center of our faith. She is not the true reason for our
confidence. She is not the final aim of
our love. The Father, Jesus the Son and
the Holy Spirit are our center of faith, our confidence, and final aim of our
love. As Christians we believe that Mary
forms part of the mysteries which are central to our faith. Without being the center, Mary is at the
center. We believe that Mary, because of
her unique position in salvation history, also has a special position in our
personal salvation history.
4. The
normal way. For Christians, Mary is the normal way to
Jesus Christ. The Fathers of the Church
have previously stated; the way by which Christ came to men should also be the
way by which we should come to Christ, and Christ came to us through the
Virgin.
5. The
easiest, shortest, and surest way. Mary is not
only the normal way to Christ. She is,
according to the words of Pope St. Pius X, also the easiest, shortest and
surest way to Christ. Marian devotion is
one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind:
this is manifested by the great enthusiasm with which the image of the
Virgin has been received everywhere, and if we love the Virgin so much, then we
are already loving Christ. This is one
of the mysterious laws of love. True
love implies and includes love for everything and for all who love the
beloved. Therefore, love for Mary is
extended and becomes love for Christ.
6. The
most fruitful way. Mary is also and lastly, the
most fruitful way to Christ. Pope St. Pius X tells us beautifully: “The Blessed Mother gives us vital knowledge
of Christ.”
7. It
is Mary’s charisma, feminine and maternal charisma to vitally make the persons of the
Trinity approachable. To make the Church
a home. To make men and women brothers
and sisters in Christ her son. This
charisma explains the strength and the rootedness of Marian devotion in the
people of God.
8. The
example of the Saints. The great Saints of
all times affirm and prove with their lives, the truth and the importance of
this classic way THROUGH MARY TO JESUS.
Without exception many of them have consecrated themselves to the Virgin
and she without doubt has led them to her Son, even to the height of sanctity.
9. Mary
is the land for the encounter with Christ.
All the love we give to the Blessed Virgin, she gives to the Lord, and
in this way our love find, through Mary, the easiest, shortest, surest and most
fruitful way to Jesus Christ.