Volume V, Issue 33, December 27, 2008

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- The History of the Term Theotókos by Fr. Michael O'Carroll, C.S.Sp.

Theotókos (a Greek word meaning God-bearer) is the ancient Eastern title for Mary, Mother of God, prominent especially in liturgical prayer in the Orient down to our time (1). It was formally sanctioned at the Council of Ephesus (2). It makes into one word the Lucan title "Mother of the Lord" (1:43) with 2:12, where Lord is taken in a transcendent sense; it is the counterpart of John’s "the Word was made flesh" (1:14). From the second century, Mary’s Son was called God by the Fathers; a Christian interpolation in a Jewish book of the Sibylline oracles reads "a young maiden will bear the Logos of the highest God." The precise origin in time of the word itself is difficult to establish. It is attested by a unique piece of evidence: the papyrus fragment in the John Rylands Library, Manchester, on which, in the vocative case, it is clearly discernible (3). If this papyrus can be dated in the third century, the title must have existed for some time, possibly a generation, before. A word of such significance would not be invented in a popular prayer.

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- Two Joyful Faces of the Chinese Catholic Church by Mark Miravalle

The following interview was first published in three parts on Zenit News Service from November 9 – November 11, 2008.
—Asst. Ed.

The Joys of China (Part I) – The Smiles of a Suffering Church Revealed

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio, NOV. 9, 2008 (Zenit.org).- To speak of joy within a Church consistently persecuted by the most powerful Communist government in the world seems like flippancy, or worse, a contradiction.

It is a mystery innately connected to the heart of Christianity—a religion which holds up as its climactic victory the tortuous death of its savior God-man on a cross, two beams of wood nailed together by the sins of each living human being, my sins and your sins. And yet, the full truth must be told, and that includes the full truth about the Catholic Church in China: a people typically denied their fundamental human rights and religious freedoms, but a Christian people triumphant in heart and in joy.

As soon as I entered a major Chinese airport recently, as a follow-up visit after the publication of my book The Seven Sorrows of China, and handed off a suitcase full of smuggled medical supplies to some guardian angels from the West who take care of God's precious—and China's most neglected—children, I was hurried away to a vehicle by an excited Catholic priest who was a native Chinese teaching in a seminary in a neighboring country.

As we drove away from the airport, the Chinese priest was quick to inform me that he had read my previous book, "The Seven Sorrows of China," and, while complimentary and confirming of the value and accuracy of the text from an inside perspective, he was also adamant in stating that the book was in one way incomplete. "It is a beautiful book and has many good things," he noted, "but now I challenge you to write something on the ‘Joyful Mysteries of China.’ If you give only the sorrowful side, it will not encourage the people. Jesus had the sorrows of his passion, but also his joys and glories. You must also write about the victories that are happening in the Church in China right now."

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- The Light of Truth (Lux Veritatis - a 1931 Encyclical on the Mother of God) by Pope Pius XI

To Our Venerable Brethren, Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Local Ordinaries enjoying Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See.

Venerable Brethren and Beloved Children, Health and Apostolic Benediction.

1. History, the light of truth, and the witness of the ages, if only it be rightly discerned and diligently examined, teaches us that the divine promise of Jesus Christ: "I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world" (Mt 28:20), has never failed the Church His Bride, and therefore that it will never fail her in time to come. Nay, further, the more turbulent the waves by which the divine bark of Peter is tossed, in the course of ages, the more present and powerful is her experience of the help of heavenly grace. This happened more especially in the first age of the Church, not only when the Christian name was regarded as an execrable crime, to be punished by death, but also when the genuine faith of Christ, confounded by the perfidy of the heretics who were spreading, chiefly in the eastern regions, was placed in grave jeopardy. For even as the persecutors of the Catholic name, one after another, perished miserably, and the Roman Empire itself came to ruin, so all the heretics, as withered branches (cf. Jn 15:6) torn from the divine vine, could neither drink the sap of life nor bring forth fruit.

2. The Church of God, on the contrary, in the midst of so many storms and the vicissitudes of things that perish, trusting in God alone, has ever gone on her way, with firm, secure steps, and has never ceased from her strenuous defense of the integrity of the sacred deposit of Gospel truth, entrusted to her by her Founder.

3. These things come to our mind, Venerable Brethren, when we are about to speak to you, in these letters, concerning that most auspicious event, namely, the Ecumenical Synod which was held at Ephesus, fifteen hundred years ago; for there, assuredly, the crafty perversity of those who erred was exposed, and there, too, was manifest the most firm faith of the Church upheld by heavenly aid.

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- Mary Co-redemptrix: The Cross Accepted by John McCullough

In order to understand more fully the mystery of the Cross, it is essential that one comes to understand Mary’s role of Coredemption with Jesus. This work will set out by exploring the Scriptural and Magisterial foundations of Marian coredemption. The writings of the Church Fathers will add depth and perspective as to how Mary’s role as Co-redemptrix has developed in the Church through the centuries. Special attention will be given to the suffering experienced by Mary in her role as Co-redemptrix. Mary’s participation in redemptive suffering will be shown as an example for all of humanity to follow. In this way, Marian coredemption comes to be understood as the Cross accepted.

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- The Blessed Virgin Mary: Mediatrix of All Graces by Kristina Olsen

Introduction

Mary worked actively along with Christ for the redemption of humankind. Just as the authors of the gospels were active in the process of writing, and not merely takers of dictation, so also was Mary active in supporting and contributing to Christ’s Incarnation and the redemption of humanity. From the Annunciation, through Christ’s and Mary’s passions on Calvary, and now in Heaven, she was and is actively participating with her Son every step of the way, cooperating in and sometimes even inspiring and leading the work, such as she did at Cana. Her special role is seen in Sacred Scripture from Genesis through Revelation. Sacred Tradition confirms her unique role among all people in its Papal decrees, Church writings, liturgical practices and the sensus fidelium. The awareness of her maternal presence and help has been expressed in various ways by the faithful in both the East and the West, including petitions for dogmatic definitions and devotional practices throughout the centuries. Private revelation, including some instances which have been officially approved by the Church, complete the picture of defining Mary’s ongoing mediatory role in the affairs of the world and the salvation of her spiritual children.

Mary wants all people to be saved, and she is united as with one heart to Christ and his saving work. Her concern is to bring all people to Christ, and she continues to practice this in her unique way from Heaven. Because she shared in the objective redemption by actively participating in Christ’s Incarnation and his work on earth, she helped to acquire the graces which she now distributes. Along with Christ, according to the will of the Father, and through and with her spouse, the Holy Spirit, she works among us today as Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate.

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