At an inter-denominational gathering, I met a Doctor who had studied in a Christian medical college. She shared with me, doubts that had arisen in her mind, during the course of her formation, concerning certain aspects of the Catholic faith. As it happens, in such debates, one of the first in the line of attack is the Catholic’s devotion to Mary.
Devotion to the Blessed Mary was for me, a discovery through perseverance and diligent openness to God’s guidance. Though as a young boy, we as a family prayed the Rosary and the other prayers, I thank God for his great mercies, for having given me this privilege and grace, to know about one of his great actions in history for the salvation of the human race.
Mary is synonymous to Catholic sentiments and spirituality. Along with the revelation of God’s Word which extols Mary, the many senseless attacks against the Catholic devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary are challenges for the human race, to seek and discover the prime place Mary has in the salvific mission of Christ.
Empirical reason and explanations:
The Christian belongs to God’s Kingdom. The world view we hold on to, is, that God, in his great mercy and love has taken us out from the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of his beloved son; an existential reality. A kingdom established by the death of Jesus on the Christ. We are received into the kingdom by faith, and sustained each day, through the exercise of constant trust. Hence, a Christian is one who is at constant war against the forces of darkness, a spirit of rebellion at work in godless men for whom religion is only a means for self gain.
In the history of the human race, the first battles were fought without any fortifications. But as they became wise, fortifications and ramparts were built to protect themselves against their enemies, and to live a peaceable life. Likewise is the difference, between the Catholic faith and the other denominations. Perhaps, this could be the reason why the Catholics are so comfortable and laid back against the great onslaught of the evil one, and lack the fervor and zeal shown by many of the breakaways groups. We are too comfortable with the fortifications of the Sacraments, the saints and the help of the sacramental’s, that it does not matter to us whether we know the essence of the faith or not.
The battle of the neo –Christians is the battle of the field. Their zeal under the banner of Christ is what will enable them to conquer and gain eternal life both for themselves and for others.
In a battle there are various formations. Those on the periphery or on the battle front are the first to be attacked. They are the loyal ones who are there because of their loyalty and their invincibility in the great battle. They are the ones who have been there as armors because they have been conquered for Christ. One of the greatest weapons of Satan is doubt, besides envy and jealousy. By creating such feelings of doubt, and through their envy and jealousy, coupled with their greed, some have been hitting out at the Catholic beliefs; the very first line of defense. Those who have been in the ministry of deliverance can vouch for the great intercession and help of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the deliverance and salvation of souls.
2) In the third chapter of the Book of Genesis we have a relational angle to the whole question of Mary’s role in the salvation of mankind. While the whole human race is under the power of sin, Mary in retrospect is revealed to us as the one prepared by God at the beginning of creation. The prophetic message also reveals to us that her relationship with Satan is that of enmity (Gen. 3:15). This is unlike the human relationship with Satan. God in Christ Jesus came to establish his kingdom in our hearts and through faith and baptism takes us out from this kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of his beloved (Col.1:13; 1Pt.2: 9-10).
Mary was born belonging to the kingdom of light. She was not under the yoke of Satan and his dark world. The prophetic message clearly reveals the special place of the woman, whom we see as Mary having a pivotal role to play in the salvation of the human race.
3) God entrusted to her his wealth; “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possession.” Matt 24:45-47 Similarly, Mary was the one who was found faithful in God household. For humans it is much easy to pass judgment and criticize. They make their pre-judgments even about God. Hence, God entrusts her with all his possession.
When a Man goes on a mission and if he has to keep his most precious goods in safe custody, then he will definitely hand it over to his most trusted and loyal servant or friend. Similarly God had entrusted the savior of the world to his most beloved and trust worthy handmaid (Lk.1:38), whom all generations should call blessed (Lk.1:48).
All good learning does not come from the education industry or schools of training; it also depends on the background and training that one receives in a family. Just as the Apostle Paul lays his claim to learning not from the other Apostles but to a revelation of Christ, similarly Jesus too was taught by his heavenly Father. But one must remember that though Paul was taught by God, his background and training in the philosophies of the Greek and under the great Gama’liel definitely helped him excel and do better than the others. In the Gospel of Luke (Lk.2:41-52), we have an insight in to the great family atmosphere in which Jesus grew and his mother playing that essential role through much patience and sound reasoning and constantly pondering on God’s eternal word made flesh in her womb and now dwelling with her.
God working out his plan: Can God begin a task and leave it incomplete; or do it in a shoddy way? In the saving action accomplished by Jesus on the Cross it was the sin of one man (Adam) that brought death to the human race, so also through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross we are saved. (Rm. 5:12)
4) The woman was instrumental in the first sin and played a major role in that great fall. God working out his plan of salvation includes both men and women. Since the damage to the human race was through a woman so likewise in the work of salvation God chose a woman to accompany his Son as the new eve who will assist her Son to destroy the work of the evil one. Mary too has a role to play in the great restoration which God has proclaimed in his Son Jesus. (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2:35
Prayer: Immaculate heart of Mary, Pray for us that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
-fr. conrad saldanha
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