M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On this great Feast of Pentecost, I cannot help but think of those lovely titles: “Our Lady of Light, Spouse of the Holy Spirit”. I first learned to pray those invocations as a teenager from a Dominican Sister who taught us in Catholic High School. As I picture the coming of the Holy Spirit recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, Mary truly is Radiating the Light of the Holy Spirit Who first overshadowed her at the Incarnation and conceived within her womb, Jesus. At Pentecost, He came in a new way as He descended upon her and the disciples in the upper room.
Mary is for us, as she was for the first disciples, Mother and Model. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful. Kindle in us the Fire of Your Love.
Mary, Mother of the Church and “examplary realization” of the Church, pray for us.
On this great Feast of Pentecost, I cannot help but think of those lovely titles: “Our Lady of Light, Spouse of the Holy Spirit”. I first learned to pray those invocations as a teenager from a Dominican Sister who taught us in Catholic High School. As I picture the coming of the Holy Spirit recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, Mary truly is Radiating the Light of the Holy Spirit Who first overshadowed her at the Incarnation and conceived within her womb, Jesus. At Pentecost, He came in a new way as He descended upon her and the disciples in the upper room.
Mary is for us, as she was for the first disciples, Mother and Model. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
967 By her complete adherence to the Father’s will, to his Son’s redemptive work, and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the Church’s model of faith and charity. Thus she is a “preeminent and . . . wholly unique member of the Church”; indeed, she is the “exemplary realization” (typus) of the Church.
There was a time when I realized, much later in my life that this Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Mary whom I loved and invoked from my youth was so united with Jesus, I could not think of one without thinking of the other. Now I have come to realize I cannot think of the Holy Spirit without thinking of her as well. What A Mystery: Mary is daughter, of the Father, Mother of the Son and Spouse of the Holy Spirit!968 Her role in relation to the Church and to all humanity goes still further. “In a wholly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity in the Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace.”
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful. Kindle in us the Fire of Your Love.
Mary, Mother of the Church and “examplary realization” of the Church, pray for us.