Mary in the life of the church and of every individual

At the outset I acknowledge that these reflections that I am going to share with you are basically derived from the encyclical Redemptoris Mater of Pope John Paul II.

            The Salesian Constitution article number 8 speaks of the presence of Mary in our society. I am sure that the newly professed Salesians of the first years are still fresh and even can say it by heart. We as Salesians are very much aware of the maternal and ever protecting presence o the Blessed Virgin Mary in our lives, thanks to our holy founder Don Bosco for handing on to us such a wonderful heritage in the devotion to the blessed Virgin Mary. I do not think that we need an explanation as to the presence of Mary in the life of Salesians; rather I would take for granted that we are experiencing her maternal presence every day. Hence let me move on to enumerate a bit concerning the presence of Mary in the Catholic Church and the life of every individual.

            Our Blessed Mother is present in the church from the moment of its origin on the day of Pentecost: a day of spectacular remembrance in the history of the Church. Inspired by her presence from then on the Church is constantly imitating her. In fact following her example the Church itself has become a mother to all Christians. The Church shares her spiritual motherhood. As Mary was a humble handmaid of God who followed the will of God, the Church at every moment implores the blessings of God to follow His will. In imitation of her the church has remained as a faithful spouse of the bridegroom who is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ as St. Paul would put it in 2 Cor 11:2.

            One of the important characteristics of mother Mary is pondering everything about the divine son, in similar path the Church too is in constant contemplation of the eternal mystery of the Word of God all through the history of time and cherishes it. Our mother Church does not stop with imitation it seeks her blessing and guidance to be ‘like her’. She is the perpetual model, intercessor, protector and cooperator of the holy Church. Her presence is not like the presence of the divine entities rather her presence is very maternal and encouraging. Our Savior hanging between heaven and earth gave his own mother to us and us to His beloved mother in the person of John (Jn 19: 26-27). Here the new motherhood of Mary; a spiritual motherhood is instituted for the brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

            Her presence as mother is not to make her the centre but to lead the Church together with her sons and daughter to her Son who is ever present in the form of Eucharist. The history, especially the accounts of the apparitions show clearly that she always directs people to her beloved son. She acting as a sign post towards Jesus is well noticed in the wedding at Canna where she said, “Do whatever He tells you.” She directs us to Jesus for she was convinced that he is the way, the truth, the light and the life to God the Father (Jn 14:6).
She was also aware that He is the only one who is the mediator between God and man.

            At the beginning of the Second Vatican Council Pope Paul VI openly reemphasized that Mary is the mother of the Church and of every person both pastors and faithful. Through her spiritual motherhood she embraces each and every one of her children. Jesus giving mother Mary as the precious gift to us expects everyone of us present here to welcome her into our home like Apostle John, but here by home we refer to the human and spiritual ‘I’.

To love is to know. I am sure that she knows each one of us individually as a mother would know. But how many of us know her fully? When I say know I am not speaking of the intellectual knowledge of the Blessed Virgin Mary rather I am referring to the spiritual knowledge. How many of us know her and experience her as a mother who is ever present with the Church? How many of us experience her as a model, protector, intercessor and cooperator? Let us resolve today to welcome her in to our home: the human and spiritual ‘I’ and make effort to imitate her and experience her presence close to our heart. Hence one day she may say to us, “Well, you have done whatever he told you.”

PHILOSOPHICAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF JOHN PAUL II: A Summary

PHILOSOPHICAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF JOHN PAUL II

The question about the origin and nature of man or rather human beings and the world has been the object of speculation from the very beginning of philosophy. Each school tried to find answers for the questions like what is the primordial stuff or how did it (the world inclusive of all beings) all come about into existence. The answers were diverse and multitude. Which view is the best view among all the answers given by different people leads to the second stage of speculation on the same questions. Even now the recent philosophers and different fields of science try to give convincing answers to the questions about the origin, essence and existence of world and the beings that are present in it.

Various questions and answers concerning existence and essence of the world and the beings day by day grows into be a more complex phenomenon, Pope John Paul II, who has been the supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church for a remarkable period of time comes out with his simple yet profound Philosophical Anthropology. He gives answers to the questions that are as old as the history of philosophy with simplicity, yet very profound and with proper logical arguments. His writings reveal that he bases his whole thought concerning the world and beings more especially about man in three sectors. The first sector is man in relation to his origin. He makes it very clear that there is a Supreme Being who is the author and creator of the whole universe. The world and all it contains were created by this Supreme Being who is God. This God created everything as intrinsically good. God created man in his image and likeness so that they could be in friendship with Him and the others. This God created human being as man and woman each one as the combination of a material body and spiritual soul and as a gift to each other.

The second sector is man in relation to the society. Human beings who are created by God are necessarily called to live in society. The whole humanity is called to imitate the love of the Creator out of which He has created them. The entire humanity should move towards creating a society that is basically a civilization of love where peace and solidarity are experienced. The third sector is human being in relation to metaphysics. In this sector he shows human being as the combination of material body which dies and spiritual soul which is eternal. This soul which lives after life lives in union with God who is the author and creator of the universe who is full of love and mercy. 

The theme that runs through his philosophical Anthropology is, “There is a Supreme Being who created the world and all that it contains. Among all the creatures man is created in the image and likeness of that Supreme Being who is God. This Man is called to live in participation with others to create a civilization of love and act to bring about common good in freedom. This man is made up of spiritual soul which is eternal that is in union with its creator and material body which perishes when it reaches its destiny (death).”