For I delivered to you as of first importance what
I also received, that Christ died for our sins in
accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance
with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas,
then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than
five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are
still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he
appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of
all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
(1 Cor. 15:3-7)
Prayer
We fly to your patronage,
O holy Mother of God;
Despise not our prayers in our necessities,
But ever deliver us from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Reflection
Saturday is Mary’s day. The origin of this custom
seems to be the sense among Christians that Mary alone
believed firmly in Christ’s resurrection from the dead
once his body was laid in the tomb on Holy Saturday.
All of the other disciples were, at best, distraught
and confused by Jesus’ promise that he would rise
from the dead. Mary alone did not falter in her faith.
It is precisely this faith that the Church honors each
Saturday of the year.
Blessed John Paul II explained in a General Audience
Address that Mary was very likely the first disciple to
see and embrace the risen Lord:
Indeed, it is legitimate to think that the Mother
was probably the first person to whom the risen
Jesus appeared. Could not Mary’s absence from
the group of women who went to the tomb at
dawn (cf. Mk 16:1; Mt 28:1) indicate that she had
already met Jesus? This inference would also be
confirmed by the fact that the first witnesses of
the Resurrection, by Jesus’ will, were the women
who had remained faithful at the foot of the Cross
and therefore were more steadfast in faith. Indeed,
the Risen One entrusts to one of them, Mary
Magdalene, the message to be passed on to the
Apostles (cf. Jn. 20:17-18). Perhaps this fact too
allows us to think that Jesus showed himself first to
his Mother, who had been the most faithful and had
kept her faith intact when put to the test. Lastly,
the unique and special character of the Blessed
Virgin’s presence at Calvary and her perfect union
with the Son in his suffering on the Cross seem to
postulate a very particular sharing on her part in
the mystery of the Resurrection. (21 May 1997)
The Scriptures tell us that after Christ ascended into
heaven, Mary remained with the Apostles as they
awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14).
She was with the Twelve on Pentecost and, with
them, received the Holy Spirit. The Twelve received
the Spirit for their work of preaching the Gospel and
baptizing people of every nation. Mary received the
Holy Spirit for her mission as mother of Christ’s
disciples. Until the end of the world Mary, Mother of
the Church, will help her children live by faith, spread
the faith, and work tirelessly for the conversion of all
men and women to Christ.
St. Louis de Montfort in his masterpiece, True
Devotion to Mary, explains that Mary, assumed into
Heaven, shares her faith with her children on earth:
Mary will share her faith with you. Her faith on
earth was stronger than that of all the patriarchs,
prophets, apostles and saints. Now that she is
reigning in heaven she no longer has this faith,
since she sees everything clearly in God by the light
of glory. However, with the consent of almighty
God she did not lose it when entering heaven. She
has preserved it for her faithful servants in the
Church militant. Therefore the more you gain the
friendship of this faithful Virgin the more you will
be inspired by faith in your daily life (214).
Catholics today need to be strengthened by Mary to
stand firm in the fight for the protection of human life
from conception to natural death and the preservation
of the religious freedom guaranteed to American
citizens by the Constitution. May she who has been
chosen by God to crush the head of the ancient serpent
(Gen. 3:15), accomplish the renewal of faith and
apostolic zeal in our land through the labor of Catholics
dedicated to the Gospel.
Prayer
Confer, O Lord, on us, who serve beneath the standard
of Mary, that fullness of faith in you, and trust in her,
to which it is given to conquer the world. Grant us a
lively faith, animated by charity, which will enable
us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure
love of you, and ever to see you and serve you in
our neighbor; a faith, firm and immovable as a rock,
through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast
amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life; a
courageous faith which will inspire us to undertake
and carry out without hesitation great things for your
glory and for the salvation of souls; a faith which will
be our Pillar of Fire – to lead us forth united – to kindle
everywhere the fires of divine love – to enlighten those
who are in darkness and in the shadow of death – to
inflame those who are lukewarm – to bring back life
to those who are dead in sin; and which will guide our
own feet in the way of peace; so that when the battle of
life is over, all of Mary’s children without the loss of
any one, may be gathered together in the kingdom of
Your love and glory. Amen.
(Adapted from Tessera of the Legion of Mary)