By Thomas Mulcahy
If God's own messenger, the Archangel Gabriel, hadn't called her by the descriptive title, "Hail, Full of Grace" (Luke 1: 28); and if she had not been covered by the Holy Spirit's "unspeakable shadow" (see Luke 1:42); and if St. Luke, in describing Mary's visitation to Elizabeth, hadn't drawn a stunning comparison between the Virgin Mary and the all-holy Ark of the Covenant (see link below); and if Mary's visit (with Jesus in utero) to Elizabeth hadn't unleashed a veritable explosion of grace; and if, at the sound of Mary's voice, Elizabeth had not been filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaimed Mary to be "the Mother of my Lord" (Luke 1:41-45); and if Simeon the prophet had not peered down through the decades to see that Mary, who had brought the baby Jesus to the Temple, was predestined to share closely in Jesus' passion, saying to Mary, "And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2: 35); and if Mary's role as a powerful intercessor hadn't been
so clearly manifested at Cana when she moved her Son to work His first public miracle against His own will since His "hour had not yet come" (John 2:1-12); and if the Lord Jesus Himself hadn't bequeathed her to us (from the cross) as our Spiritual Mother as He was meriting our very salvation, saying, "Behold, your Mother" (John 19: 25-27) as she stood faithfully at the foot of the cross in fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy; and if Saint Luke hadn't specifically pointed out that she was present with the Apostles in the Cenacle in "preparation for Pentecost" and the "birth of the Church" (quotations from Pope John Paul II; see Acts 1:14); and if Saint John hadn't seen her in a vision of heaven, "clothed with the sun" and wearing her Queenly crown of twelve stars (Revelation 12:1-2); and if Old Testament typology and New Testament fulfillment didn't point to her as the New Eve and Queen Mother (see especially Scott Hahn's masterful book, Hail Holy Queen); and if the testimony of the Catholic saints didn't overwhelmingly verify beyond all peradventure the amazing assistance she provides to those who accept her spiritual motherhood (which Jesus merited for us), leading them to greater union with Jesus, perhaps then you could persuade me not to accept all of the beautiful and sublime teachings about her by the Roman Catholic Church, the only church in Christendom which can trace its origin directly back to Jesus and the apostles.Thank you, Tom, for sharing this with us! God is at work in you.
The Hail MaryHail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. +
Sources:
Various Scott Hahn tapes including "Mary: Holy Mother," and his book, Hail Holy Queen; various Father Faber books (I believe he used the beautiful phrase, "unspeakable shadow," quoted above); internet article Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant (This Rock: October 2005); and other Catholic apologetic materials.
See also, Ignatius Catholic Study Bible; Dictionary of Mary; and by Pope John Paul II (click on link below): Mary's Presence in the Upper Room at Jerusalem
