December 27, 2015: Del Rio News-Herald * OPINION * Letter to the Editor * The Virgin Mary in current events
Letter to the Editor,
The Virgin Mary in current events
The Virgin Mary making the news: one an honorable
mention, the other a dishonorable mention.
First, the honorable mention; the December 2015 cover
of National Geographic magazine features the artistic depiction of the face of
Mary from the magnificent painting “The Virgin and the Child” by Alessandro di
Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, known as Sandro Botticelli, an Italian painter of
the Early Renaissance, with the title story “Mary The Most Powerful Woman in
the World” by the accomplished and award-winning writer Maureen Orth.
She was married to the late political journalist Tim
Russert, who was the moderator of Meet the Press.
The article examines the depth and breadth of the
devotion to Mary around the world and it is evident that a tremendous amount of
research went into the writing of this feature story.
The Bible’s New Testament records Mary briefly, but
her images and legacy have been eminently renowned throughout the ages.
The article features a world wind tour of the people
and places that give witness to this extraordinary popular piety reflecting
again and again the intimate and personal relationship people have with Mary as
a mother.
Now, unfortunately to the most disgraceful and
dishonorable mention of Mary in the news.
The TV show “Scandal” truly lived up to its name by
exhibiting a most scandalous episode ironically dubbed the Christmas show.
This episode featured the show’s main character
undergoing an abortion, as the popular Christmas hymn “Silent Night” played in
the background.
The words of the first stanza: “Silent night! Holy
night! All is calm, all is bright, Round yon Virgin Mother and Child! Holy
Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace!” a song that celebrates
the birth of Christ set in juxtaposition to the scene that seemingly eviscerates
the child from the womb.
Then, on the night where hours before the
main character had an abortion, she is seen at her apartment with a tall glass
of red wine, gazing at her Christmas tree as “Ave Maria” plays.
Those who commemorate abortion have to drown
their emotions with alcohol.
Another person seen drinking a tall glass
of red wine was the abortionist caught in the undercover videos gleefully
discussing the harvesting and selling of aborted baby body parts.
The words of the “Ave Maria” are a direct
quote from the Archangel Gabriel, found in the Bible, Luke 1:28, when he
descends from heaven and appears to the Virgin Mary, telling her she has been
blessed to carry the Lord Jesus Christ within her womb.
Again another horrific celebration of abortion,
this time set to the hymn honoring the Miraculous Conception of Jesus in the
Womb of His Mother Mary.
Only Jesus’ last words from the cross
suffice, “"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are
doing." Luke 23:34
Marian Casillas, Ed.D.