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Guardian of the Redeemer (Redemptoris Custos)

Written by Pope John Paul II Saturday, 20 March 2010 00:00

"Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took his wife" (cf. Mt 1 :24).

Inspired by the Gospel, the Fathers of the Church from the earliest centuries stressed that just as St. Joseph took loving care of Mary and gladly dedicated himself to Jesus Christ's upbringing (1), he likewise watches over and protects Christ's Mystical Body, that is, the Church, of which the Virgin Mary is the exemplar and model.

On the occasion of the centenary of Pope Leo XIII's Encyclical Epistle Quamquam Pluries (2), and in line with the veneration given to St. Joseph over the centuries, I wish to offer for your consideration, dear brothers, and sisters, some reflections concerning him "into whose custody God entrusted his most precious treasures" (3). I gladly fulfill this pastoral duty so that all may grow in devotion to the Patron of the Universal Church and in love for the Savior whom he served in such an exemplary manner.

Read more: Guardian of the Redeemer (Redemptoris Custos)

The Predestination of St. Joseph and His Eminent Sanctity

Written by Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. Saturday, 20 March 2010 00:00

In view of the Solemnity of St. Joseph on Friday, March 19th, we present this exceptional commentary on the unique prerogatives and holiness of St. Joseph as articulated by Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P., former Professor of Theology at the Angelicum, taken from his classic mariological work, The Mother of the Saviour and Our Interior Life. – Ed.

"He that is lesser among you all, he is the greater" (Luke 9:48)

The opinion that St. Joseph is the greatest of the saints after Our Lady is one which is becoming daily more commonly held in the Church. We do not hesitate to look on the humble carpenter as higher in grace and eternal glory than the patriarchs and the greatest of the prophets—than St. John the Baptist, the Apostles, the martyrs and the great doctors of the Church. He who is least in the depth of his humility is, because of the interconnection of the virtues, the greatest in the height of his charity: "He that is the lesser among you all, he is the greater."

St. Joseph Speaks to Fathers

Written by Anne a Lay Apostle Saturday, 20 March 2010 00:00

Did Mary Truly Cooperate in Our Redemption?

Written by Dr. Christoph Cardinal Schönborn Saturday, 20 March 2010 00:00

The following catechesis  was given by Dr. Christoph Cardinal Schönborn in Vienna, May 27th, 2001 -Asst. Ed.

“Mary, help!” On the Meaning of Marian Devotion

I

On May 13th 1981 at 5.19 PM shots were fired at Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square. The 9mm bullet fired by an expert marksman, Ali Agca, hit the Holy Father in the abdomen and would have caused internal bleeding and death within a short time. Ali Agca was pardoned by the Italian President last year at June 15th, to the great joy of the Pope, who had been requesting this for some time. The surgeons at the Gemelli Hospital operated for hours to save the Pope, whose life was hanging by a thread. They found that the bullet had just missed the artery by a few millimeters and had thus not hit any of the vital nerve centers. Later the Pope described this event thus: "One hand fired the shot, another guided the bullet."

It was May 13th, the anniversary of the first apparition at Fatima. The Pope himself said that at that time he was not yet so conscious of the significance of Fatima, but as soon as possible he had all the documents about the events of Fatima brought to the Gemelli Hospital. Among them was the text of the so-called third secret, which he read and then returned to the Archives, where it was kept until May 13th 2000, when, surprisingly the contents were published in its essentials by the Pope or rather by his Secretary of State, in Fatima. Soon after, this secret of Fatima was published, with an explanatory commentary by Cardinal Ratzinger.

The Whole World Awaits Mary’s Reply

Written by St. Bernard of Clairvaux Saturday, 20 March 2010 00:00

You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us.

The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be, and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life.

Read more: The Whole World Awaits Mary’s Reply

The Annunciation: Co-redemptrix Begun

Written by Mark Miravalle Saturday, 20 March 2010 00:00

"Incarnatio redemptiva redemptio inchoativa" ("the redemptive Incarnation is the Redemption begun"). This patristic concept of the miracle of miracles in which the Second person of the Most Holy Trinity deigned to become flesh for us correctly conveys that the Incarnation of Jesus Christ is truly the "Redemption begun." And yet, it was the Father's perfect plan that such redemptive Incarnation take place only through the consent of a human, a woman, a virgin.

"Yes" to the Annunciation: Lk. 1: 26-38

"Let it be done to me according to your word" 

Read more: The Annunciation: Co-redemptrix Begun

The Annunciation and Good Friday

Written by Fr. John Saward Saturday, 20 March 2010 00:00

In the following article by Fr. John Saward from his text The Mysteries of March: Hans Urs von Balthasar on the Incarnation and Easter, the author underscores the patristic tradition of the Annunciation and Good Friday both taking place on March 25th, and the theological and liturgical complementarity of these two great liturgical events. Indeed, Mary's "fiat" at the Annunciation is also the yes which leads to the Redemption of the world and to her role as Co-redemptrix at the foot of the Cross on that "Good" Friday. – Ed.

There are years when, by date, the Annunciation falls during Holy Week, even on Easter Sunday; in 1989, for example, the twenty-fifth of March was Holy Saturday. In the Latin Church the problem of such double booking is solved by transferring the feast to a day outside the privileged Paschal period. However, in the Churches of the Byzantine rite, the solemnity of the Incarnation Stands its ground alongside the commemoration of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection. If the Annunciation coincides with "Great Friday" or "Great Saturday," these cease to be the two days of the year when the Eucharist is not celebrated; the divine liturgy is served in honor of the Incarnation, and there is a hectic duplication of offices. This custom may look like just another example of oriental delight in complication, but it is much more than that. First, it reflects a tradition going back at least as far as Tertullian, according to which Our Lord died on the Cross on the eighth day before the Calends of April, that is to say, the twenty-fifth of March, the very day on which, by a later reckoning, he had been conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin. (1) Secondly, both the eastern liturgical practice and the calendrical tradition upon which it is based express an intuition of faith, the Church's sense that the "mysteries of March"—the Incarnation, the Cross, and the Resurrection—are inseparably connected. Christian poets have always loved to entwine them. For example, St Ephrem, the fourth century Syriac writer, speaks of the new and everlasting springtime inaugurated by the coincidences of the month to which he gives the Semitic name of "Nisan."

Read more: The Annunciation and Good Friday

The Eucharist and the Death of Our Savior

Written by Saint Peter Julian Eymard Saturday, 20 March 2010 00:00

Pan's Labyrinth

Written by Michael D. O'Brien Saturday, 20 March 2010 00:00

Most contemporary films are infected with some degree of symbol-erosion. A case in point is the Spanish language Pan's Labyrinth (El laberinto del fauno, 2006), by the Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro, whose previous work includes Hellboy and Backbone of the Devil, films that draw on strange fiction, fantasy, and war themes. Pan's Labyrinth is particularly interesting for its integration of fairy-tale, classical myth, horror, and political propaganda. Profoundly beautiful in parts, it is graphically brutal and subtly anti-Christian in its use of symbols. It won several international awards and three Academy awards and was listed in the top ten favorite films of many film critics.

The story is set in Spain, in 1944. The Spanish Civil War is over, but hidden in the mountains armed partisans (the Communists) hold onto shrinking islands of resistance. They are relentlessly being hunted down by the military forces of Franco's regime. Throughout the film, the Communist partisans are all portrayed as kind, brave, self-sacrificing, warm-hearted men of honor and justice—without exception they are truly humane. The people loyal to the regime are banal, greedy, cruel, hypocritical cowards, torturers, or murderers—in short, gross caricatures of the political, religious, and social establishment.

Read more: Pan's Labyrinth

Novena for the Fifth Marian Dogma "Day of Dialogue" : March 25, 2010

Written by Mother of All Peoples Friday, 12 March 2010 00:00

On March 25, 2010, a "Day of Dialogue" will take place at the Vatican Forum on the issue of the appropriateness of a fifth Marian Dogma, the solemn papal definition of Our Lady as the Spiritual Mother of all humanity, the Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix of all graces and Advocate.  Bishops and theologians from different parts of the world have been invited by Inside the Vatican Magazine, moderator of the discussion, to partake in the Church dialogue, one which could have significant and even historic effects of the solemn definition of Our Lady's spiritual motherhood and thereby on the entire Church and world.

The following Annunciation Novena has been adapted and initiated by members of the Christian faithful to pray for the success of this Roman Day of Dialogue and for the eventual definition on the Fifth Marian Dogma.  We are happy to forward on to you this novena which we have received, and to encourage readers the world over to participate in this novena from Wednesday, March 17 to Thursday, March 25, that the Holy Spirit through the Immaculate and Coredemptive Heart of Mary will overshadow those participating in the Day of Dialogue and ultimately our beloved Holy Father regarding the dogmatic crowning of our Mother Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix of all graces and Advocate. -Ed.

Annunciation Novena

I greet you. Ever-blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Throne of Grace, miracle of Almighty Power! I greet you, Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity and Queen of the Universe, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of Sinners!