"In her we contemplate... what the Church already is

[MariaChristi]

…what the Church already is in her mystery on her own “pilgrimage of faith,” and what she will be in the homeland at the end of her journey."

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On this day before Ash Wednesday, I went back to Pope Francis’ mention of Mary as perfect icon of the Church which evangelizes (2016 Lenten Message), and also to the Catechism where I first began to ponder the Church’s teaching on Mary as Icon:

III. MARY - ESCHATOLOGICAL ICON OF THE CHURCH

972 After speaking of the Church, her origin, mission, and destiny, we can find no better way to conclude than by looking to Mary. In her we contemplate what the Church already is in her mystery on her own “pilgrimage of faith,” and what she will be in the homeland at the end of her journey. There, “in the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity,” “in the communion of all the saints,” The Church is awaited by the one she venerates as Mother of her Lord and as her own mother.

In the meantime the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise she shines forth on earth until the day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of God.

Lent is a special time, and Pope Francis has urged: “… Lent in this Jubilee Year be lived more intensely as a privileged moment to celebrate and experience God’s mercy” . He further encourages us:

…Let us not waste this season of Lent, so favourable a time for conversion! We ask this through the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, who, encountering the greatness of God’s mercy freely bestowed upon her, was the first to acknowledge her lowliness (cf. Lk 1:48) and to call herself the Lord’s humble servant (cf. Lk 1:38). (2016 Lenten Message)

May we look to Mary as we begin Lent tomorrow, praying to become more and more as she is, by the power of the Holy Spirit, perfectly united with the Triune God.