Spirituality of Mary

Mary the woman of Faith and Prayer

A) Mary and Faith

1. Faith of Mary is personal that she surrenders herself to God in perfect obedience of will. The whole person of Mary was involved in making an act of faith.
2. Faith is not a result of her intellection. It is not hers, but faith is the fruit of God’s grace.
3. Mary’s faith is free: It is not under pressure or compulsion she freely accepted God’s will.
4. Assuring faith: Mary did not know her future. She trusted in the power of God’s word and was convinced that it is God who was acting in her. Faith led to the salvation of people through her son.
5. Suffering Faith: Suffering makes Mary to have more faith. Because of the faith we can bear suffering.
6. Communitarian: Mary’s faith is personal but not individualistic. It is the ecclesial faith. The faith of the Church is based on Mary’s faith

B) Mary and Prayer

A) Prayer

a)   Magnificate- prayer of praise

b)  At Cana-  prayer of petition

c)   At Cenacle (Upper room- at the time of Pentecost, she was in prayer (mental prayer)

B) Meditation

a)   Lk2:19 after the visit of the Shepherds

b)  After she found Jesus in the Temple.

Ø         Mary the Woman of Discipleship

·       Meaning of a disciple

Disciple is the one who disciplines himself or herself according to the rule of the master.

Mary as the disciple: Jesus called His disciple as this master, brother and sister. Disciple is the mother of Jesus but mother has become the disciple of Jesus.

·       Rule of the Master Jesus

One must hear word of God and do it.

·       Hearing the Word Of God:

Hearing means, ‘Submitting one’s will to the will of the other.’  Hearing means, giving up one’s will for the sake of the master’s will. (Spiritual Sacrifice) It means readiness to follow or to do God’s will. Doing the will of God in action namely to one’s neighbours.

Mary’s helping tendency (Charity)

 As a Christian we have to grow like this.

All these instances Jesus was with Mary. Mary put the will of God in action in and through Jesus. Therefore Mary did the will of God for the sake of Jesus, her Master. A disciple of Jesus is one who does the will of God in and through and for Jesus the master.

Mary the women of the Eucharist

(Ecclesia De Eucharistia No: 53-55)

Eucharistic Liturgy

a)               We are not sure If Mary was in the Eucharistic Celebration of our Lord (Lord’s Supper). Mary would have been definitely present when the apostles celebrated Eucharist.

b)  Jesus’ presence must be Distinguished,

                              i.            Natural made

                          ii.            Sacramental made

Ø Natural made is divided in to two

v Physical body –Jesus 33 years on earth

v Spiritual body –In heaven

Ø Sacramental made – Body on the Altar

Sacramental body would not be possible without physical body Mary would have thought apostles “Give Birth” to Jesus Sacramental body.  It is because she “gave birth” to Jesus Physical body. (e.g)Mary is like Pradeepa Patil (President) Apostles are like Monmohan Singh (Prime minister)

President has more dignity than the prime minister. The person who she gave birth physically is the same person who is made present Sacramentally. Eucharist is continuation or prolongation of incarnation.

c)   What would the Apostles have thought while celebrating the Eucharist?

At Cana Mary said, do what ever Jesus tells you. This command of Mary is of value not only at Cana in the Context of Wedding but for all people at all times. At the last supper Jesus said “do this in memory of me”. When the Apostles celebrated the Eucharist they obeyed not only the commandment of Jesus but ultimately the commandment of Mary.

d)  Mary said, “Amen” and received Jesus in her Womb. In the Same way we say ‘Amen’ And received the Same Jesus in the Eucharist.

e)   In the tabernacle there is the Sacramental Body of Jesus. In Mary there was Physical body of Jesus. Same person but in different modes. Mary’s visit to the Elizabeth is the first Eucharistic procession.

Ø Mary in Relation to Jesus Christ

Popularity of Mary: Mary is the only world-wide known saint. Most of shrines are dedicated to Mary. Most of the Pilgrimages are made to Mary. To Mary prayers are addressed (Rosary). Most of the Catholics are named after Mary. Mary is presented as an embodiment of all virtues. Model for every virtue.

Ø Mary as Mother

›    Physical motherhood: Angel addressed Mary- Full of Grace (From above)

›    Elizabeth addressed Mary – Full of Faith (human point of view). 

That saviour who would be born, is the revelation of God. Mary said, “YES” to the revelation. That is faith. This Faith itself is a result of Grace.

There is a movement within Mary from God to God,  (Everything comes from God and goes to God).

Ø Spiritual Motherhood: (Mt12:48)

Anyone who does will of god is Jesus mother. Mary is mother of Jesus in the Spiritual sense because she did the will of God. As disciple of Jesus, Mary is the mother of Jesus. Mary alone is mother of Jesus physically and Spiritually. While Mary alone is mother of Jesus Physically, all His disciples can be mother of Jesus Spiritually. Spiritual motherhood from proceeds physical motherhood. Mary conceived word of God in Her heart before she conceived him in her womb (St. Augustine). Only in Mary spiritual motherhood culminated in physical motherhood. First Mary received created grace (Sanctifying grace) that is Immaculate Conception of Mary (Spiritual mother) Then Mary received uncreated grace (God himself). When? At the virginal conception of Jesus.

Mary as the Woman

God had plan of salvation in all eternity. This plan was executed in history. In this plan a woman played a major role and her role is related to Jesus and the Church because in them Salvation is or was realized.

	Three levels of Salvation History

A.  Beginning of time:

Salvation is promised. In Gen3:15 there is a mention of a woman. This woman would play a major role in Salvation.(Already foretold)

B.  Fullness of Time

Salvation is realized in two stages

a.    Cana

b.   Calvary

A. Cana

Jesus began the work of Salvation, at that time Jesus addressed Mary as ‘woman.’  Why? Jesus pointed out the Mary is the Woman who was mentioned at the beginning of History. Jesus’ hour neither has come nor yet come. That hour of giving wine not yet come. Here wine referred to Salvation. As a preparation of Salvation, Jesus gave real wine. Wedding party who was in need of wine stands for the entire humanity. Who is in need of salvation? Here Mary is mother of mankind. Hereafter Mary is stands for mother of mankind.

c.    Calvary (Jn 19:26)

d.   Complete the end of Salvation. Hour of giving wine has come. Mary was there. Here Jesus addressed Mary as Woman. St. John stands for all the disciples of Jesus. Church is the redeemed Community. Therefore Mary becomes mother of the Church.

·       End of time

In Rev 12^th Chapter we read, St. John had a vision of the “woman” in glory. Here woman is Mary in God. This woman is the Church that will be glorified. Here Mary stands for the glorified church. Mary identified with victorious church.

Mary as the New Eve

St. Paul Said in his letter to the Romans 5:12 Sin, and  death came from one man Adam - Earth, and in the same chapter he said grace and life came from man, Jesus - Heaven (Rom 5:17)

Beginning of History

Adam brought sin and death

A woman was very significant as a symbol of disobedience

Eve

New beginning of History

Jesus brought grace life. 

Therefore Jesus is called new Adam

A woman was a significant as a symbol of obedience.

Mary – New Eve.

Therefore Mary is reversal of Eve (EVA=AVE)

Mary as mother is related to the person of Jesus Christ

Mary as the woman is related to the Slavonic Action of Christ.

Bro.  A William.