Devotion to Mary

[A GRAMBUS post adapted from MARK MIRAVALLE]

All relationships, of course, are a two-way street. They require something from us — phone calls and visits, acts of thoughtfulness, time spent together. They demand that that we give some­thing of ourselves to the other. In our relationship with Mary, she helps give new life to our souls, prays for us, and provides us with what we need to grow in grace. In return, she deserves our honor and love, just as our earthly mothers do. She deserves our devotion.

To make sure we’re all on the same page, I want to spend a little time explaining what I mean by devotion. The word can have more than one meaning, and the Church uses Latin terms to help us dis­tinguish between the kind of devotion we give to Mary and the kind of devotion we give only to God. These words are dulia and latria.

Latria basically means adoration. Traditionally, it refers to the worship and homage that we give to God and God alone. When we adore God, we acknowledge him as an excellent, perfect, uncreated, divine person. We give him what he alone, as God, is due.

Dulia is very different.

The Immaculate Conception

[A GRAMBUS post] 
On Feb. 11, after I posted the explanation for the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes, a Protestant friend sent me a link to her church’s stand on Mary that I would like to now respond to.

But, first a brief background explanation of Our Lady of Lourdes from AmericanCatholic.org.

The Lourdes Grotto today

On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. A little more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the apparition on March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”Bernadette was a sickly child of poor parents. Their practice of the Catholic faith was scarcely more than lukewarm. Bernadette could pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Creed. She also knew the prayer of the Miraculous Medal: “O Mary conceived without sin.”During interrogations Bernadette gave an account of what she saw. It was “something white in the shape of a girl.” She used the word aquero, a dialect term meaning “this thing.” It was “a pretty young girl with a rosary over her arm.” Her white robe was encircled by a blue girdle. She wore a white veil. There was a yellow rose on each foot. A rosary was in her hand. Bernadette was also impressed by the fact that the lady did not use the informal form of address (tu), but the polite form (vous). The humble virgin appeared to a humble girl and treated her with dignity.

One of the beautiful outcomes of Mary’s appearance in February 11, 1858, to a poor, peasant girl in Lourdes, France—besides revealing a stream of water that has been a source of healing to this day—was the name that

Behold Him

The Elevation of Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrifice

[A GRAMBUS post.]

It happened again yesterday at Holy Family parish where I attend daily Mass.  Now that it’s happened so much, I wonder if I’m going to receive inspiration in regard to every single utterance by the priest during the Liturgy.  As you will recall (from a previous blog), the first inspiration I received during the Mass was when the priest spoke these words, “Blessed/Happy are those CALLED to the Supper of the Lamb.”  At that moment, during that particular Mass, I knew God was speaking to me, and I was one of the called.  For many years, I was not called.  As a Protestant Christian, I had no idea what was happening in the Mass or even that there was a Mass.  I thought “mass” was just what Catholics called their “church worship service” like any other church meeting on a Sunday morning.  Now that I KNOW what is really happening in the Mass—a collision of heaven and earth in a most miraculous way during EVERY part of it—and, now that I attend almost daily throughout the week, the Mass has become a way that God personally communicates with me about what is happening.

So, yesterday, many weeks after the first inspiration accounted above, (and, in addition to several inspirations between then and now), I heard the words just BEFORE the “Blessed are those who are called…” words out of the mouth of the priest, as if they were being spoken straight to me:  “Behold the Lamb of God!  (That was normal.)  Behold HIM who takes away the sins of the world.”  (Those words hit me between the eyes!)  As he says these words, the priest is holding up the consecrated host and cup, which are now the presence of Jesus in body and blood.  So I knelt there speechless thinking:  God has spoken to me again saying through the priest:  Jesus IS the ONE.  He IS the ONLY ONE who takes away the sins of the world.  Jesus, the Lamb that was slain.

AND, I knew, as I heard those words that there is no one else who can make that claim!

Who else besides Jesus can say that they can take away the sins of the world?  No one!

My “inspiration” about Jesus reminds me of St. John’s “revelation” about Jesus in chapter 5 of Revelation when, in a vision, he is able to look into heaven. Verse 2 says, “Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll, and break its seals?’”  Verses 3 & 4 say, “But NO ONE in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it.  I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it.”  This scroll was of paramount importance to our salvation.  Without a worthy person to open it, human beings could never be redeemed from their/our sinful state.  Then, in verse 5 John says, “One of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep.  The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.’”  Verses 6 & 7 reveal to St. John the One who is worthy.  “Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb that seemed to have been slain… He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one that sat on the throne.”  The rest of the chapter is about the beautiful song that the elders sing as they bow down with the four living creatures before the Lamb/Jesus in praise to him, who are soon joined by ALL the heavenly host “countless in number” singing the same words of praise!

We join that everlasting song, too, during the Mass.  Every Mass proclaims that Jesus is the Lamb of God slain for our salvation, and we look upon him with eyes of faith saying, “Yes, HE IS the ONE who takes away the sins of the world.”  ...the ONLY one worthy to do so—the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.  …to open the scroll.  …to do what it says—become one of us, …flesh and blood—to shed his blood—the only blood that can cleanse away our sin.

The next time you come to Mass, proclaim Jesus as “HIM who takes away the sins of the world” as the priest presents Jesus in those words after he says, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”  …and, know how blessed you are to be called to His Supper! 

Our Lady of Guadalupe

[A GRAMBUS post.]

Our Lady of Guadalupe tilma.

I don't know why, but I have been very impressed by the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe this year, ...which is today!  I love this story and the beautiful outcome of it in so many souls converted to Christianity.  So, I've been reading a lot and have come across something I'd like to share, written by someone who has studied this historical event and its meaning for some time.  I hope that his insights bring the value of this event ever more radiantly to your mind and heart.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE by Monsignor Eduardo Chavez Sanchez

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe imprinted on Saint Juan Diego’s humble tilma manifests two of the most important dogmas of Mary:  that she is ever-Virgin and, at the same time, that she is the Mother of God.  In fact, the encounter that took place in the winter of 1531 is an encounter with God himself, whom our Lady carried in her immaculate womb.  It is a real encounter with Jesus, who has taken the initiative to meet man through his Mother.
…Since our Lady carries the Lord in her womb, she appears as a pregnant woman, an expecting woman, a woman of Advent.  The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe depicts a dark ribbon above her womb, indicating that she is a woman anticipating the birth of God’s only Son.  In fact, the Spanish expression for “pregnant” is encinta, or literally, “adorned with ribbon.”

The original tilma of Saint Juan Diego,
which hangs above the high altar of
the Guadalupe Bascilica.

Before a priest celebrates Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, the people tell him: “Focus on the womb of this woman, who dances with the joy of the feast, because she will give us her Son.  With the harmony of the angel holding heaven and earth [referring to her mantle and gown], a new life is extended.  This is what we received from our elders:  that our own life does not end, but has a new meaning, and as the Great Book of the Spaniards (the Bible in Revelation 12:1) says: there was a sign in heaven, a woman dressed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of stars, and she is about to give birth.  This is what we are celebrating, Father: the arrival of this sign of unity, harmony and a new life.”

With Our Lady of Guadalupe, this sign [Jesus] has finally arrived.

Monsignor Chavez was the postulator for the cause for canonization of Saint Juan Diego, and is co-author of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love (Doubleday). 

Inspirations in the Mass

[A GRAMBUS post.]

St. John Cantius Church - Chicago

Nearly15 years ago now, when I was still arguing with the priest leading RICA (Rite of Initiation for Christian Adults), he would tell me, “Come to the Mass.  Just come to the Mass,” as if that would answer all my questions about the things I didn’t understand about the Catholic Church.  It didn’t make sense to me then, but lately I see the wisdom of his words, and they have come back to find lodging in my soul.  I’ll tell the story of my journey into the Church another time.  Suffice it to say, I did become Catholic and faithfully attended Mass each week—and happily so.  I would say, I had an above average understanding of what the Mass was all about, until…

One year and two months ago, I retired from teaching.  I decided that one of my priorities would be to attend daily Mass whenever possible.  I can’t tell you the day or date when something miraculous first occurred, but it was during an ordinary morning Mass, very unexpectedly, the words of the priest suddenly jumped out at me.  The first time it happened, it was these words:

Blessed are those who are called to the Supper of the Lamb.

You know that part of the Mass, when the priest holds up the consecrated host?  I’d heard it a hundred times.  But, at that moment, I knew those words were FOR ME.  I had been CALLED.  I had been drawn to come to the mass/The Supper of the Lamb.  For so many years, before I was Catholic, I had not been called—50 to be exact.  I didn’t even know about the Catholic Mass, but now I do and I am  …called to it.  What a blessing!  And, every time I go to mass, those same words pop out at me again and again, and fill me with love and joy for the Lamb of God, who called me to come.

The next time the words of the Mass jumped out at me was just as unexpected as before.  It happened as the priest said the words of remembrance from Our Lord at the Last Supper with His disciples.  The priest was saying: “taking the chalice, He gave thanks, and gave it to His disciples, saying…”  All of a sudden, as the priest looked out at the people and said, “gave it to His disciples,..” I had the thought, “Wait a minute!  I’m one of His disciples!”  In that moment, I knew Jesus was right there saying those words to me that followed:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of My blood.

I felt like I was right THERE at the Last Supper WITH Jesus, and he was saying those words to me.   In the Mass, the priest recites the words that Jesus spoke to His disciples, but as I hear the priest, I am actually hearing JESUS speak those words to me!  …as His disciple …NOW, in this current generation.  In the Mass, Christ speaks those words TO US! ...as His disciples TODAY!

Well, this just kept happening.  Words kept jumping at me with more and more meaning each time I went to the Mass.  In the Eucharistic prayer, the priest is thanking God the Father through His beloved Son who

 …stretched out His hands as He endured His Passion, so as to break the bonds of death and manifest the resurrection.  And so, with the Angels and all the Saints, we declare your glory, as with one voice we acclaim: Holy, Holy, Holy…

As I joined in the Holy, Holy prayer of praise, I felt like my voice was being added with all the Heavenly Hosts in giving God praise.  I looked up and imagined (no, not just imagined… I knew) I was participating with the Angels and the Saints in heaven to proclaim the holiness and glory of God.  I felt that sense of wonder and UNIFYING BOND between heaven and earth during the Mass.  Now, I remember that every time we sing or say the Holy, Holy.  Amazing!  Praising God through Christ in union with the Angels and the Communion of Saints!  That’s the unity that we experience in our worship at the Mass.  

It does not seem to end...  Just recently another phrase in the Mass has grabbed my attention, where 

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you.

Starting with the word “held” to the end, the words have continued to amaze me, because we are NOT worthy.  But, quickly I became aware that God meets us where we are, (as unworthy people) and through Christ’s worthiness, seats us with Him to “minister to”/worship Him in the beauty of the Supper of the Lamb/the Mass.  —The same Mass that has been celebrated around the world and over all the centuries since Christ left His authority and keys of the kingdom with His Apostles, to today!  

…Blessed are those who are called—and are still being called—to that Supper!

Come to the Mass.  Just come…

Today is Priesthood Sunday

[A GRAMBUS post.]
Today, October 27th this year, is Priesthood Sunday.  I did not know that we could write a letter of appreciation that would be published in The Michigan Catholic Newspaper until I picked up an edition in our Church foyer at Holy Family yesterday.  I would have written about my priest in a heartbeat.  How could I have missed this opportunity?  But, why not make an opportunity to publish my heartfelt thanks?

Dear Fr. Bob LaCroix,

Since becoming Catholic 15 years ago, I have had the privilege of being under the pastorship of 4 wonderful priests, and each one was right for the particular time of my journey to understand and love the Church I had been estranged from for the first 50 years of my life.  You were saved for my most needy years.  Years of vocational conflict, familial challenges, and most recently, my transition into retirement.  Your council and pastoral help has kept me on track in my relationship with God and those I love.

Retiring last year allowed me to begin attending daily mass, and that is where I have come to enjoy the closest relationship I have ever had with God.  I get fed every day through His Word, the Holy Eucharist, and your "personal" homilies.  Every day, I look forward to how you will bring the scriptures for the day alive to me.  You don't just speak about them.  You ask sweet but pointed questions of those gathered together, that cause us to examine our thinking and decisions and understanding of the scriptures focused on.  I feel like I am with Jesus and He is guiding me through my own personal life.  I discover things about myself and about Him every day that help me to live my life a little closer to His holy will.  I can't thank you enough for being a priest, and a holy one. You challenge all of your parishioners to think critically about ourselves, our lives with God and with others.  I am never disappointed.  Your message is always on target to me.

In addition, I know you have given the mass thousands of times as a priest, but you take the time—every time—to say it as if you are right there, at the Last Supper with Jesus, inviting us to join you at the very Supper of the Lamb.  I am so blessed to be in this holy place at this time in my life. Thank you for being a priest.  Thank you for being Christ to me and for bringing Christ to me every day.

In humble gratitude,

Pam Williams

What is the Pillar and Foundation of Truth?

[A GRAMBUS post.]
Jesus IS Truth!  But, How Do We Know His Truth Today?

Opening Session of Vatican II

I have a friend who keeps debating me on the validity of Sola Scriptura—the position held by non-Catholic Christians, that the Bible Alone is the source of Truth for Christians.  Whereas, Catholics claim that the Truth of Christ was revealed all the way up to the death of the last Apostle, and the Apostles’ teachings were carried on through Sacred Tradition. Sacred Tradition includes the written Word—Holy Scriptures/the Bible, as well as Tradition passed down orally.  The Jews very carefully preserved their Oral Tradition, which helped give support to the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures in the Old Testament.  The same is true after Christ!

Furthermore, non-Catholic Christians sometimes forget how the Bible came to be.  Historically, the Bible wasn't even in existence until the Roman Church Council of Nicaea in 325.  The books of the Bible were not gathered into one place even until then.  There were hundreds of letters floating around, and the Council had to assess which were reliable as authentic sources, worthy of placing within a Holy Canon of “New Testament” Scriptures.  The 73 (Old and New Testament) books chosen by the Council of Nicaea happen to be the same books that are in the Catholic Bible today.  After 1,500 years of the Scriptures’ guidance in the Church, the Reformation of 1534 instigated the removal of 7 of those books from the Canon.  (But for you real history buffs), …even though Luther’s excommunication was is 1521, Luther’s translation of the Bible in 1539 still contained all 73 books.  (I know.  Stan and I held it in our hands at the Newberry Research Library in Chicago.) It wasn’t until the 1800’s that Protestant publishers finally changed the Canon by removing 7 of the books.  On whose authority, I don’t know.

Now, whether the original 73 or the secondary choice of 66, ALL Christians hold these Scriptures to be the infallible Word of God, …and they are!  But, most Christians are NOT aware that they have the Roman Catholic Church (under the leadership of the Holy Spirit) to thank for the very existence of the Holy Scriptures they hold so dear.   If all Christians were aware, maybe they would also believe the Church’s claims that She is the Church Christ said the Holy Spirit would lead into ALL Truth.

The Bible is just one piece of that Truth, but a very important piece. When unfortunately, in the 1500s (1521 ff) some split from the Roman Church during the Reformation, the Bible was the only Truth those who left could tangibly take with them.  Though fortunately, SOME of the Roman Church’s doctrines WERE kept, even though they are not FOUND in the Scriptures—like the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the Doctrine of Christ’s Nature being totally human, and (at the same time) totally divine. Those are Truths the Original Church was lead into by the Holy Spirit.  I’m so glad to say that in matters of Faith and Morals, the Church has stood strong against heresies and cultural pressures (ie. Pressure in modern times to accept contraceptive methods.)

So, my second point is that Truth needs more than just a book (of 66 or 73 books) of writings.  Truth needs an infallible body to interpret and proclaim right doctrines from those writings that are based on the Mind of Christ through the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

Truth is not determined with just the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and you, as Stan and I used to think.  That’s how over 33,000 different denominations of churches have been started.  Stan and I thought we knew it all.  We had studied the Bible, memorized it, and formed our own opinions on what it all meant.  Yet, it was next to impossible to find a church that agreed with us 100%.  Once Stan and I realized it was not about US finding a church that agreed with OUR interpretation, but about God founding a Church, that He had promised to be lead into ALL Truth by the Holy Spirit, we suddenly realized we had things backwards.  That’s when we stopped church hopping and started trying to line ourselves up with that One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.  And that has made all the difference.  We are now ready to give our lives for that Church, because Christ founded Her and kept His promises all the way through Her gnarled history up to the present day.  She has not been perfect in Her people or in Her practices.  She and her members have needed reform and received it—a little later than the Protestant Reformers would have liked.  But, Her doctrines have never changed.  And, Christ will never abandon Her, because His promise is true that the gates of hell will not prevail against His Holy Church and that He will never leave Her nor forsake Her.  She continues to grow and to promote infallible Truth in matters of Faith and Morals. 

In conclusion, I'd like to quote a hymn that is familiar to ALL Christians:

v1.  The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ Her Lord.
She is His new creation* through water and the Word.

From heaven He came and sought Her to be His Holy Bride.

With His own blood He bought Her.  And, for Her life He died.

*[The Church was founded/created by Christ.]

v2.  Elect from every nation, yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation, One Lord, one faith, one birth.

One holy name She blesses.  Partakes one holy food.*
And to one hope She presses.  With every grace endued.
*[The Holy Eucharist]

v4.  Yet She on earth hath union, with God, the Three in One.
And mystic sweet communion* with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!  Lord, give us grace that we.
Like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.
*[Communion of Saints]

BTW, according to I Timothy 3:15, the Pillar and Foundation of Truth, …is the Church...  (not the Bible).

Why Give Special Honor to the Mother of Jesus?

[A GRAMBUS post.]

Maybe You Didn’t Know this Before about Mary

This blog is in answer to a friend of mine who wrote: 

"Personally I think Mary would be appalled at the place the Catholic church has given her. Where is the Scriptural teaching that Mary, while clearly blessed to be the servant that the Father used to bring His Son into the world, is anything more than that, let alone be Revered as she clearly is by the Catholic church."

She is honored more than any other human being because she is the Mother of God.  She was chosen by God the Father to bear His Son.  She conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit.  That is a very special role/calling/choosing from the Holy Trinity.  And, God, being a holy and righteous God, required that she be sinless/set apart/holy.  Why wouldn't Almighty God want a holy vessel for His holy Son?  Why would the God who demanded holy vessels for the tabernacle in the Old Testament not demand that of the vessel who would carry the holy Son of God in her womb and heart?

In Revelation,  at the end of chapter 11, when John is looking into heaven he sees that, "...the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of the covenant..."  As chapter 12 begins, you might think that John’s vision of the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple is at an end, but what if it's not?  What if John is continuing to describe what he sees, ...only it is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Ark?  Chapter 12 begins to describe "...a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars."  Why, does John describe a woman?  Because, that woman IS the Ark of the Covenant he saw—the living arc of the New Covenant.  What did the Ark of the Old Covenant contain?

      1. Manna, that God provided the Israelites to eat for 40 years in the desert
      2. Tablets carved with the Ten Commandments, received by Moses from God
      3.  Aaron's rod that budded

What are those types of/symbols of?  Christ!
      1.  The Living Bread, come down from heaven
      2.  The Word of God made flesh
      3.  The Resurrection & the Life

So, if the contents of the Old Covenant Ark were symbols of Christ, then the Ark itself was a symbol of Mary.  Mary IS the TRUE Ark of the New Covenant, and John rightly described that Ark as a woman.  And, that woman is The Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Now, let’s take a side journey and think of why she is called the Virgin Mary and why the Catholic Church believes that means it was a Perpetual Virginity.  The most obvious reason was that the angel’s announcement/proposal from God said that she would not conceive from man but by the Holy Spirit.  This is a marriage proposal, and the intended Spouse for Mary is the Holy Spirit.   But, let’s go back to the Old Covenant Ark again.  If you recall, no man could touch the Old Testament/Covenant Ark.  It had to be transported on poles carried on the shoulders of the priests who never touched the Ark itself. Likewise, no man could touch the New Testament Ark of the New Covenant—Mary.  She was holy, set apart, full of grace, sinless/spotless, as the vessel that would carry the Christ child, God’s Son.  God the Father chose Mary to be his Spouse.  When she answered His proposal, with her beautiful “[Yes]…be it done to me according to Your word,” she was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit in such a way that she conceived Christ in her womb.  Though she was betrothed to Joseph, her union with him was not ever to be consummated, thus making more sense of Mary’s question of being able to conceive when she “…[knew] not a man.”  Otherwise, she would have assumed Joseph would become that man.  Oral Tradition says that her parents dedicated her at the Temple to be set apart for God as a virgin.  Joseph’s betrothal was understood from the very beginning, to be for the protection of a virgin in a society where women did not venture "out" alone.  According to Oral Tradition, Joseph was also many years older than Mary, and a widow with sons from his previous marriage.  So, that makes sense why other scriptures refer to Jesus’ brothers—even though it was also common to call cousins "brothers" in that culture, as well. ...thus, another explanation for the reference to brothers of Jesus.  But, the greatest reason to believe in Mary’s perpetual virginity is that God chose her as His Spouse, so He had exclusive claim to her, and no man could touch her.

Getting back to John's vision, the woman is clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet.  That's how you would describe a person who has great honor in heaven, so why not on earth?  With a crown containing 12 stars?  I guess she's pretty much looked up to as a queen, …the Queen Mother!  And, all of the Apostles (12 stars) would agree.  That is why she is revered!  Because, heaven agrees with her crowning, by means of Holy Scripture in Revelation, and because Jesus’ closest disciples, who are the foundation of the Church agree as the very stars in her crown.  So, who are we to disagree with all of heaven? If God ordains the crowning/the honoring, we should, too!

Plus, the 4th Commandment tells us to honor our father and our mother.  And, Jesus as the perfect Son, knows how to honor better than anyone.  Shouldn't we follow His example?  It is his desire that his mother be honored as Queen of Heaven and Earth.  Again, the Father God chose her for His Spouse.  No one else comes near her status among human beings.  The Catholic Church did not make this up, and they would never ask anyone to worship her as a god.  But, honor her?  Yes!  Ask for her prayers to her Son on our behalf?  Yes.  (Don’t you ask people on earth to pray for you?  How much time have your friends spent with Jesus?  Mary spent 30 years—ten times more time than any of his disciples, as I heard someone recently say.)  Pray the rosary—which highlights all the high (and low) points of the life and mission of Christ on earth and heaven for prayerful contemplation?  Yes.

So, get to know the most humble, most holy woman to be born on earth.  And, don’t be afraid to honor this “Holy Mary, Mother of God!”  And, ask her to “Pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.”