A 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Thought About Our Blessed Mother

It's the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost and we'll turn our thoughts to Our Blessed Mother again, as we did last Sunday. It's also the Feast of Corpus Christi in most dioceses, even though Corpus Christi has traditionally been celebrated on Thursday. (Sort of reminds us of Ascension Thursday being "transferred" to Sunday, doesn't it?).

In any event, it's Sunday, a perfect time to spend time thinking of Our Lady. Her special month of May now past, we nevertheless turn especially to her today and the next couple of Sundays. Ideally we always turn to her. And when we do, with simplicity, as a child would turn to its mother. But for those of us who have not yet developed the habit of this ongoing relationship with Mary, Father Edward Leen will provide able assistance.

Father Leen is one of our great spiritual writers. His work does not dumb down the depth and profundity of his subjects. So when we come to him, it's important that we do so with a fresh mind, open heart and - don't rush through his words!

Here he makes the point that Mary is our Mother - really our Mother. It's not just some poetic title. It's not something for those who are particularly needy of a mother's love - for example, those whose mothers have died, or who never knew their mother. She is Mother to each and every one of us. We Catholics need to know this and go to her knowing this.

Here's what Father Leen tells us:  

“Our Blessed Lady is really a Mother. Now you all know what that word ‘mother’ means. Every letter of that word spells loyalty, sacrifice and love. All the dearest associations of life cling to it. The word brings up a vision of her who brought us into the world, who cared for us and nourished us. It tells of days of anxious watching and loving care. A mother’s love is the most perfect reflection of the love of God Himself. It is the most gentle, the most tender, the most compassionate affection on earth. A mother’s heart is a divine creation. No one but God could have thought of motherhood. None but God could have given us mothers. So wonderful a creation is motherhood that God Himself determined to have a Mother. When He decided to send His Divine Son upon earth to save us, a Mother was chosen to minister to His needs. And Mary was this Mother. Of all mothers she is the tenderest, the most understanding, the gentlest, the most full of sympathy and compassion, the most motherly, and Mary was all this for her beloved Son. When she smiled on Him at Bethlehem her smile was a perfect mother’s smile; when she clasped her Child to her heart at Nazareth it was the perfect embrace of a Mother; when she stood beneath His Cross on Calvary her sacrifice was the perfect consummation of her motherly love. The relation of a mother and son, always sacred, reaches its summit in the highest perfection that can be conceived when Mary is Mother and Jesus is Son. The love of a mother is unlike all other love and the crown of the love of mothers is the love of Mary the Mother of Jesus.

“When you think of it, was it not a tremendous privilege for Our Lady to be the Mother of Jesus! For thirty years she lived side by side with Him. She alone of all the human race enjoyed with Him for all those thirty years that intimacy and familiarity which exist between a mother and a son. During those years she exercised all the functions and fulfilled all the duties of a mother. She was the witness of His smallest actions, she piously laid up each one of His words in her heart, she knew intimately each one of the sentiments which animated Him. And to His Mother Jesus paid a perfect tribute of submission, respect and love. Never was Mother so loved, never was Son so loving. Now it was in this close association with her Son that Mary learned to love mankind. It was with Jesus that she prepared to be the Mother of Men. For, besides being the Mother of Jesus, Mary is our Mother.” (Fr. Edward Leen, C.S.Sp.)
 

Happy Sunday! 

Happy Feast of Corpus Christi!