Devotion To Mary Is Also Devotion To Christ And The Church
In his Apostolic Exhortation regarding devotion to the Virgin Mary, Venerable Pope Paul VI emphasized how the Advent Season lends itself liturgically to veneration of the Virgin Mary. She represents God’s People, who had waited for centuries for the coming of the Promised Savior, as she carried God’s Son in her womb. Mary was the first to welcome Christ into her life. She brought him forth physically, just as each Christian and the Church are to radiate Christ’s presence in the world.
The Advent Season finds its culmination in the Solemn Feast of the Savior’s Birth. While Advent may be a time to venerate Mary liturgically (and in our personal lives), she always points to Christ. Such was her mission. Chosen by God to bring Christ into the world, Mary can never be seen in isolation from Christ. Nor is she ever seen in isolation from the Church, for she is the Mother of the Church.
Venerable Pope Paul VI continues in his letter that, “The Christmas season is a prolonged commemoration of the divine, virginal and salvific motherhood of her whose ‘inviolate virginity brought the Savior into the world.’ In fact, on the Solemnity of the Birth of Christ the Church both adores the Savior and venerates His glorious Mother. On the Epiphany, when she celebrates the universal call to salvation, the Church contemplates the Blessed Virgin, the true Seat of Wisdom and true Mother of the King, who presents to the Wise Men, for their adoration, the Redeemer of all peoples (cf. Mt. 2:11). On the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph … the Church meditates with profound reverence upon the holy life led in the house at Nazareth by Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, Mary His Mother, and Joseph the just man (cf. Mt. 1:19) (Paragraph 5).” Although Jesus remains first in our adoration on these feast days, Mary is also venerated, for only through her “yes” was Christ not only born into the world but also into our lives through baptism.
Do you remember when we celebrated the “Circumcision of Jesus” on January 1 (the Jewish custom on the 8th day after birth)? We now celebrate the Solemn Feast of Mary the holy Mother of God. This conforms “to the ancient liturgy of the City of Rome…to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation. It is meant also to exalt the singular dignity that this mystery brings to the ‘holy Mother…through whom we were found worthy to receive the Author of life.’ It is likewise a fitting occasion for renewing adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace, for listening once more to the glad tidings of the angels (cf. Lk. 2:14), and for imploring from God, through the Queen of Peace, the supreme gift of peace” (Paragraph 5).
In no way, are we to make Mary the center of the Advent and Christmas Seasons. Jesus must always remain at the heart of our faith, for “God so loved the world that He sent his only Son into the world so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). However, we can never forget the role that Mary played as God’s instrument in accomplishing God’s plan.
As we look forward to celebrate Christmas day, we are called to welcome Christ even more into our lives. Meister Eckhart, a 13th century German theologian and mystic, wrote this beautiful reflection on Christmas: “What good is it to me if this eternal birth of the divine Son takes place unceasingly but does not take place within myself? And what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace and if I am not also full of grace? What good is it to me for the Creator to give birth to His son if I do not also give birth to Him in my time and my culture? This then, is the fullness of time: when the Son of God is begotten in us.”
