SPECIAL HONOUR PAID TO MARY

SPECIAL HONOUR PAID TO MARY

“Holier than the Cherubim and Seraphim she enjoys unquestionably greater glory than all the others saints, for she is full of grace.”

“I don’t like Protestants because they don’t honour Mother Mary like Catholics.” These were the words of Catholic youngsters. So may I ask you few questions. We know we don’t worship Mary. Mary is Mother of God but not God. If it is so then is she equal to saints? If not what is the special honour we pay to Mary?

So here I am to speak about this special honour paid to Mary.

Adoration is an act of religion in which the human mind and will acknowledge God’s infinite sovereignty and supreme dominion over His creation. It is expressed externally by an attitude of reverence and by words of praise. This highest type of worship is reserved for God alone and is called ‘Latria’ by theologians.

The honour paid to Mary and the saints is an infinitely lower plane. When it refers to the saint, it is called dulia and when it refers to Mary it is called hyper dulia. Mary deserves this veneration because of Her unique position as Mother of God. It is less than that given to God but is surpasses the honour according to the saints and angels.

Now, how can we say that is far from idolatry? There are two reasons.

1.      It is an honour rendered to a creature who has carried out unique role in the History of salvation and has through grace attained the heights of sanctity and glory, but remains creature nonetheless; she remains for Christian tradition, the “Handmaid/servant of the Lord.”

2.      The veneration of Mary is neither a substitute for nor something independent form, nor an alternative to the worship owed to the Trinity. It is willed by God and has God as its end. The second Vatican Council summed this point up very nicely.

“This cult, which always existed in the Church, although it is altogether singular, differs essentially form the cult of adoration which is offered to the incarnate word, as well as to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and it is most favorable to it. As She is proclaimed and venerated, Mary calls the faithful to Her Son and His sacrifice and to the Love of the Father.” (Luke 66: 65)

 As we specially honour Mary in this month let this point be clear in our mind. Let us give the honour to Mary by imitating her especially in these days.                                                                   

HOLINESS OF MARY AND OF THE CHURCH

“Virginity of the flesh and the virginity of the heart is virginity of faith”

Respected Fathers and Brothers, today I would like to speak on the Topic “Holiness of Mary and of the Church.”

Dear Friends, as we know, the Virginity of the Church helps one to understand Mary’s Virginity, so Mary’s holiness assists one to grasp the holiness of the Church.

The sanctity of both is caused by the same grace of God. The main difference lies in the receptivity of Mary and of the church is that no refusal or reluctance ever marked Mary’s acceptance of God’s advances, but the church is a collective  men and women who never hold their souls completely open to God’s Generosity. All men and women are called to holiness in the church. The church is holy because it has received from God the means of holiness, faith and the sacraments, which produce holiness in the members. However, although the church is entirely holy, its members are subject to defects and sins that hamper the diffusion of its holiness.

Dear friends, if we compare Mary’s holiness and holiness of the Church, the Church brings out Mary’s superiority.

She was redeemed by being preserved and Her Immaculate conception involved Her freedom from concupiscence (lust). But the church is formed of members who all, with exception of Mary, contract original sin

Consequently, although we are purified from all guilt by baptism; we are burdened with the weight of concupiscence (lust), which slows down the growth of grace.

Friends, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s progress in sanctity was constant and rapid. Her whole life, and Her actions were unfailingly directed towards God.

She mounted form holiness to holiness, always full of grace because each grace increased Her capacity for further grace and fulfilled her soul.

The Church also grows in grace, aspiring to the full stature of Christ. But the Church is made up of both saints and sinners. The sinners must unceasingly repent and be converted anew: its progress is hindered by the members sluggish response to grace.

Sanctity flowers into glory and resurrection, the final –triumph. On earth, the church plods along, in the order of holiness, with all its setbacks.

But Mary is now in glory, prior to the Church, She was taken up to heaven, body and soul.

Yet Her Assumption, coming as the climax of the fullness of grace, pre-figures and anticipates the assumption of the Church.

Therefore, St. Augustine says, “Virginity of the flesh and the Virginity of the heart is Virginity of faith.” St. Bernard says, “Mary is the neck through which every grace descends from the head to the members of the body.”

St. Louis de Mont fort says, “Call Mary and Echo will answer Jesus.”

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen says, “Keep Mary in your mind and Jesus will grow in your heart.”

Don Bosco says, “Have faith in Mary and you will see what miracles are.”

Dear Friends, let us imitate Our Blessed Mother, let us try to grow in grace after the example of our Blessed Mother.

“Following Mary you never go astray, asking Her you never despair, thinking of her you never go wrong.” - St. Bernard