May all discover in his words ‘Behold, your mother!’ the invitation
to accept the blessed Virgin as mother and respond to her as true
children
"The words, 'Behold, your mother!', express Jesus' intention to
inspire in his disciples an attitude of love for and trust in Mary,
leading them to recognize her as their mother, the mother of every
believer", the Holy Father said at the General Audience on
Wednesday, 7 May. The Pope was continuing his catechesis on the
role of the Blessed Mother, focusing this time on her spiritual
motherhood. Here is a translation of his reflection, which was the 50th
in the series on the Blessed Virgin and was given in Italian.
1. After entrusting John to Mary with the words "Woman, behold
your son!", Jesus, from the Cross, turns to his beloved disciple,
saving to him, "Behold, your mother!" (Jn 19:26-27). With
these words, he reveals to Mary the height of her motherhood: as mother
of the Saviour, she is also the mother of the redeemed, of all the
members of the Mystical Body of her Son.
In silence the Virgin accepts the elevation to this highest degree of
her motherhood of grace, having already given a response of faith with
her "yes" at the Annunciation.
Jesus not only urges John to care for Mary with special love, but he
entrusts her to him so that he may recognize her as his own mother.
During the Last Supper, "the disciple whom Jesus loved"
listened to the Master's commandment: "Love one another as I have
loved you" (Jn 15:12) and, leaning his head against the Lord's
breast, he received from him a unique sign of love. Such experiences
prepared him better to perceive in Jesus' words an invitation to
accept her who had been given him as mother and to love her as Jesus did
with filial affection.
May all discover in Jesus' words: "Behold, your mother!",
the invitation to accept Mary as mother, responding to her motherly love
as true children.
The Blessed Virgin teaches us to love the Lord deeply
2. In the light of this entrustment to his beloved disciple, one can
understand the authentic meaning of Marian devotion in the ecclesial
community. In fact, it places Christians in Jesus' filial relationship
to his mother, putting them in a condition to grow in intimacy with both
of them.
The Church's devotion to the Virgin is not only the fruit of a
spontaneous response to the exceptional value of her person and the
importance of her role in the work of salvation, but is based on
Christ's will.
The words "Behold, your mother!", express Jesus' intention
to inspire in his disciples an attitude of love for and trust in Mary,
leading them to recognize her as their mother, the mother of every
believer.
At the school of the Virgin, the disciples learn to know the Lord
deeply, as John did, and to have an intimate and lasting relationship of
love with him. They also discover the joy of entrusting themselves to
the Mother's maternal love, living like affectionate and docile
children.
The history of Christian piety teaches that Mary is the way which
leads to Christ and that filial devotion to her takes nothing from
intimacy with Jesus; indeed, it increases it and leads to the highest
levels of perfection.
The countless Marian shrines throughout the world testify to the
marvels wrought by grace through the intercession of Mary, Mother of the
Lord and our Mother.
Turning to her, drawn by her tenderness, the men and women of our
time also meet Jesus, Saviour and Lord of their lives.
Above all, the poor, tried in heart, in their affections and in their
material need, find refuge and peace in the Mother of God, and discover
that for all people true riches consist in the grace of conversion and
of following Christ.
Every Christian should make room for Mary in his daily life
3. According to the original Greek, the Gospel text continues:
"From that hour the disciple took her among his possessions" (Jn
19:27), thus stressing John's ready and generous adherence to Jesus'
words and informing us about his behaviour for the whole of his life as
the faithful guardian and docile son of the Virgin.
The hour of acceptance is that of the fulfilment of the work of
salvation. Mary's spiritual motherhood and the first manifestation of
the new link between her and the Lord's disciples begins precisely in
this context.
John took the Mother "among his possessions". These rather
general words seem to highlight his initiative, full of respect and
love, not only in taking Mary to his house but also in living his
spiritual life in communion with her.
In fact, a literal translation of the Greek expression "among
his possessions" does not so much refer to material possessions
since John—as St Augustine observes (In Ioan. Evang. tract. 119,
3)—"possessed nothing of his own", but rather to the
spiritual goods or gifts received from Christ: grace (Jn 1:16), the Word
(Jn 12:48; 17:8), the Spirit (Jn 7:39; 14:17), the Eucharist (Jn
6:32-58).... Among these gifts which come to him from the fact that he
is loved by Jesus, the disciple accepts Mary as his mother, establishing
a profound communion of life with her (cf. Redemptoris Mater, n.
45, note 130).
May every Christian, after the beloved disciple's example, "take
Mary into his house" and make room for her in his own daily life,
recognizing her providential role in the journey of salvation.
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