Apostleship of Prayer

St. Vincent was born in Spain and entered the Dominican Order when he was seventeen. He became a powerful preacher and miracle-worker who traveled throughout Europe. He lived at one of the lowest points in the Church’s history—the Great Western Schism—when there were three different bishops who claimed to be pope. The Council of Constance resolved the issue in 1414 and, through St. Vincent’s tireless work on behalf of Church unity, peace was restored.

On this First Saturday, when we honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary, let us continue to reflect on Pope John Paul’s Angelus Meditation of August 27, 1989, praying that through Mary’s intercession our faith in the resurrection may grow.

Brothers and sisters, no one experienced that the Heart of Jesus is “life and resurrection” as Mary did. From him, the life, Mary received the life of original grace and by listening to his word and attentively observing his salvific actions she was able to preserve and nourish it. From him, the resurrection, she was associated in a singular way to his victory over death. The mystery of her assumption—body and soul—into heaven is the consoling proof that Christ’s victory over sin and death is extended in the members of his Mystical Body, first of all to Mary, the “most eminent member” of the Church (Lumen Gentium #53).Glorified in heaven, with her motherly heart the Virgin is at the service of the redemption effected by Christ. “Mother of life,” she is close to every woman who brings a child into the world, and is near every baptismal font where Christ’s members are born of water and the Spirit (John 3: 5). “Health of the sick,” she is present where life is languishing, stricken by suffering and illness. “Mother of mercy,” she calls those who have fallen under the weight of guilt to return to the fountains of life. “Refuge of sinners,” she shows those who have strayed from it the way that leads to Christ. “Sorrowful Virgin,” near her dying Son (John 19: 25), she is to be found wherever life is drawing to a close. Let us invoke her now with the Church: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.”

Today’s Readings: Acts 6:1-7;  Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19;  John 6:16-21

Normally this solemnity is celebrated on March 25 but because that day fell during the Octave of Easter, it was transferred to this day. In our prayer intentions for this month we have prayed that the world may understand the importance of forgiveness and that persecuted Christians may continue to bear witness to the Word of God. The Blessed Virgin Mary received the Word of God into her Immaculate Heart and conceived that Word in her womb. Without Mary the Word of God would not have taken flesh, and the world would not have been reconciled to God. Thus we rightly honor Mary and pray that we may surrender to God’s will in our lives as she did in hers. Our reflection is from Pope Benedict’s Angelus Message on March 25, 2007.

The Annunciation, recounted at the beginning of St. Luke’s Gospel, is a humble, hidden event – no one saw it, no one except Mary knew of it -, but at the same time it was crucial to the history of humanity. When the Virgin said her “yes” to the Angel’s announcement, Jesus was conceived and with him began the new era of history that was to be ratified in Easter as the “new and eternal Covenant”.In fact, Mary’s “yes” perfectly mirrors that of Christ himself when he entered the world, as the Letter to the Hebrews says, interpreting Psalm 40[39]: “As is written of me in the book, I have come to do your will, O God” (Hebrews 10: 7). The Son’s obedience was reflected in that of the Mother and thus, through the encounter of these two “yeses”, God was able to take on a human face. This is why the Annunciation is a Christological feast as well, because it celebrates a central mystery of Christ: the Incarnation.“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your Word”. Mary’s reply to the Angel is extended in the Church, which is called to make Christ present in history, offering her own availability so that God may continue to visit humanity with his mercy. The “yes” of Jesus and Mary is thus renewed in the “yes” of the saints, especially martyrs who are killed because of the Gospel.