Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

 


SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD 


It’s Jesus being exalted when we reach the date of December 25th. Now, as we advance to the date of January 1st, it’s the Virgin Mary’s turn to be exalted. But is it exclusive? Is it an exclusive brand of exaltation? Has she completely replaced Jesus on center-stage? It is true, we are definitely saying something about Mary when we acknowledge her as the Mother of God. However, at the same time, we are likewise saying something about her Son. We’re saying that he has a divine status. We’re saying Luke 1:38 portrays Divinity itself taking up residence within the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, the stage is being shared. Along with saluting the Virgin Mary we are also saluting the “Fruit of her Womb.”  Basically, it’s because of Jesus’ exalted status that we are allowed to extend an exalted status to Mary. 


You’ve heard the expression: the high tide raises all of the boats within the harbor. Imagine we’re talking about an industrial harbor. As the tide comes in, you see a tugboat being raised. It’s being raised, and yet at no point will it surpass the freighter positioned next to it. This is explained by the fact that the freighter is being elevated in conjunction with the tugboat. The freighter, by way of design, presents a superior stature, in comparison with the tugboat. The tide may give considerable lift to the tugboat, but in the process, it’s also giving considerable lift to the freighter. The freighter’s superior stature is going to be maintained, no matter how much elevation is provided to the tugboat. 


This means there is never any chance that the exaltation received by the Blessed Virgin Mary will ever come at the expense of her Son, Jesus. It shouldn’t be regarded as an exclusive form of exaltation. Rather, it should be seen as conjunctive. The tide that lifts Mary also lifts her Son. He’s not going to be surpassed. His superior stature is going to be maintained. No matter how vigorously we give elevation to Mary, she will never exceed Jesus. Thus, we can praise her with abandon. We can venerate her with abandon. We can honor her and we can celebrate her with abandon. Even as we do so, the Lord becomes all the more elevated and glorified. 


Essentially, it’s all about Mary being connected with Jesus. We pay attention to her because of her connection with Jesus. She has a connection unlike anybody else’s connection. It’s the connection of all connections. Any tide that lifts Mary will automatically give lift to Jesus. They became connected at the time of the Annunciation. That connection carries through the miracle of Christmas. And it continues to this day. We devote ourselves to her, and as we do so, our own connection with Jesus becomes solidified. Pope John Paul II popularized the expression, “Totus Tuus.”  It derives from the Latin, and it signifies the process through which we go to Jesus through the person of Mary. It was St. Louis de Montfort who originally formulated the expression. Pope John Paul was the one who popularized the concept for our day and age. He wanted each and every one of us to experience that singular reward—the reward of a bond with Jesus, facilitated through the Blessed Virgin’s Patronage. 

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