By consenting to her Son’s sacrifice, the Blessed Virgin had a part in
his self-offering to the Father as the victim who takes away the world’s
sins
"With our gaze illumined by the radiance of the Resurrection, we
pause to reflect on the Mother's involvement in her Son's redeeming
Passion, which was completed by her sharing in his suffering", the
Holy Father said at the General Audience of Wednesday, 2 April, as he
reflected on Mary's participation in the mystery of Redemption and her
presence at the foot of the Cross. Here is a translation of his
catechesis, which was given in Italian.
1. Regina caeli laetare, alleluia!
So the Church sings in this Easter season, inviting the faithful to
join in the spiritual joy of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer. The Blessed
Virgin's gladness at Christ's Resurrection is even greater if one
considers her intimate participation in Jesus' entire life.
In accepting with complete availability the words of the Angel
Gabriel, who announced to her that she would become the Mother of the
Messiah, Mary began her participation in the drama of Redemption. Her
involvement in her Son's sacrifice, revealed by Simeon during the
presentation in the Temple, continues not only in the episode of the
losing and finding of the 12-year-old Jesus, but also throughout his
public life.
However, the Blessed Virgin's association with Christ's mission
reaches its culmination in Jerusalem, at the time of the Redeemer's
Passion and Death. As the Fourth Gospel testifies, she was in the Holy
City at the time, probably for the celebration of the Jewish feast of
Passover.
2. The Council stresses the profound dimension of the Blessed
Virgin's presence on Calvary, recalling that she "faithfully
persevered in her union with her Son unto the Cross" (Lumen
gentium, n. 58), and points out that this union "in the work of
salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ's virginal conception
up to his death" (ibid., n. 57).
Mary joins her suffering to Jesus' priestly sacrifice
With our gaze illumined by the radiance of the Resurrection, we pause
to reflect on the Mother's involvement in her Son's redeeming Passion,
which was completed by her sharing in his suffering. Let us return
again, but now in the perspective of the Resurrection, to the foot of
the Cross where the Mother endured "with her only-begotten Son the
intensity of his suffering, associated herself with his sacrifice in her
mother's heart, and lovingly consented to the immolation of this victim
which was born of her" (ibid., n. 58).
With these words, the Council reminds us of "Mary's
compassion"; in her heart reverberates all that Jesus suffers in
body and soul, emphasizing her willingness to share in her Son's
redeeming sacrifice and to join her own maternal suffering to his
priestly offering.
The Council text also stresses that her consent to Jesus' immolation
is not passive acceptance but a genuine act of love, by which she offers
her Son as a "victim" of expiation for the sins of all
humanity.
Lastly, Lumen gentium relates the Blessed Virgin to Christ,
who has the lead role in Redemption, making it clear that in associating
herself "with his sacrifice" she remains subordinate to her
divine Son.
3. In the Fourth Gospel, St John says that "standing by the
Cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife
of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene" (19:25). By using the verb "to
stand", which literally means "to be on one's feet",
"to stand erect", perhaps the Evangelist intends to present
the dignity and strength shown in their sorrow by Mary and the other
women.
The Blessed Virgin's "standing erect" at the foot of the
Cross recalls her unfailing constancy and extraordinary courage in
facing suffering. In the tragic events of Calvary, Mary is sustained by
faith, strengthened during the events of her life and especially during
Jesus' public life. The Council recalls that "the Blessed Virgin
advanced in her pilgrimage of faith and faithfully persevered in her
union with her Son unto the Cross" (Lumen gentium, n.
58).
Sharing his deepest feelings, she counters the arrogant insults
addressed to the crucified Messiah with forbearance and pardon,
associating herself with his prayer to the Father: "Forgive them,
for they know not what they do" (Lk 23:34). By sharing in the
feeling of abandonment to the Father's will expressed in Jesus' last
words on the Cross: "Father into your hands I commend my
spirit!" (ibid., 23:46), she thus offers, as the Council notes,
loving consent "to the immolation of this victim which was born of
her" (Lumen gentium, n. 58).
Mary's hope contains light stronger than darkness
4. Mary's supreme "yes" is radiant with trusting hope in
the mysterious future, begun with the death of her crucified Son. The
words in which Jesus taught the disciples on his way to Jerusalem
"that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by
the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and
after three days rise again" re-echo in her heart at the dramatic
hour of Calvary, awakening expectation of and yearning for the
Resurrection.
Mary's hope at the foot of the Cross contains a light stronger than
the darkness that reigns in many hearts: in the presence of the
redeeming Sacrifice, the hope of the Church and of humanity is born in
Mary.
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