Who is Mary for Pope Francis in the context of his first
apostolic exhortation entitled Evangelii
Gaudium chapter 5, section 2. It was released on the occasion of the
feast of Christ the King 2013.
What is the role of Mary in the New Evangelization? (5, 2,
284)
Mary, who is the mother of Jesus, was present throughout the
mission of her Son. And on Pentecost Day, she was praying with the disciples
for the Sanctifier to come down. And according to the Pope, we could not really
grasp the spirit of the new
evangelization without her.
Mary as our Mother and as icon of womanhood (5, 2, 285)
Before Jesus expires, he led us to Mary by saying “Woman, here is your son,” and “Here is your mother.” The word ‘son’ is
literally John the beloved apostle, and the Church interpreted it as referring
to the ‘whole church’ or ‘people of God.’ And the Pope describes those words of
the dying Lord as revelatory formula – manifesting the mystery of a special saving mission. What is it? Jesus wants us
to journey with Mary as our mother for she is the icon of womanhood of the
church.
The connection between Mary and the Church or People of God
(5, 2, 285)
These are some thoughts from Blessed Isaac of Stella
regarding the Mary and the Church. First, if Mary has brought forth her Son
into the world, we are like Mary who will also bring forth the message and the
messenger into the world too. And secondly, if Jesus has dwelled in the womb of
Mary for nine months, Jesus will also dwells among us in the church, not for
nine months, but until the end of the world.
Other characteristics of Mary (5, 2, 286)
She makes home with abundance of love
She sings the Father’s praises (the Magnificat)
She shows concern like a friend (that wine will not be
lacking)
She understands all our pains just what she did to her son
(even her heart was pierced by a sword metaphorically)
She is a sign of hope for the suffering
She is a missionary who draws
near to us and accompanies us throughout
She is a true mother – walks
besides us, shares our struggles and surrounds us with God’s love
Mary as the Point of Reference (5, 2, 287)
Mary is the woman of faith by her total yes to God – she lives advances in faith. How? By
submitting herself to the Holy Spirit who guides her life throughout. Thus she
becomes the point of reference on who to be an evangelizer. Our journey is
marked by happiness and sadness, and Mary experienced it too.
What is the Marian ‘style’ to our work (as Church or
ecclesial community) of evangelization?
The pope answers this way: there must be an interplay between justice and tenderness, of
contemplation and concern for others. Tenderness is not a virtue of the
weak while pursuing justice. It is a virtue of the strong so as not treat
others poorly. Like Mary we must contemplate all things that is happening
within and around us, being able to see the hands of God in our lives. And like
Mary, let us go out of ourselves and be of service to others. She is indeed the
mother of perpetual help.
