Ad Jesum Per Mariam

1st-Century Theotokos

Why do Catholics talk about Mary so much? As I meditated upon this question this morning, the answer became obvious. Instead of putting it in my words, I offer you this poem entitled "Mary the Dawn" which is a part of the Morning Prayer in the Divine Office, today, January 1, 2012, on The Solemnity of Mary, The Mother of God.

Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!
Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread;
Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!
Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!
Mary the temple, Christ the temple's Lord;
Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!
Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven's Rest;
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
Mary the mother, Christ the mother's Son
By all things blest while endless ages run. Amen.

If the history of Christianity proves anything--the history of humanity even--is that we would prefer a ghost to save us. We give-up Christ in favor of Santa Claus. We swap the Holy Spirit for "close encounters". We prefer "spirituality" to religion. 

Enter Mary. 

Do not forget! We are saved because God became flesh! A true devotion to Mary constantly draws us into the humanity of Christ--which is the gate by which we can share in His divinity. It is the gate that Mary gave Him! Let all the earth praise the Lord, for by the New Eve we are offered the fruit of the Tree of Life! No longer can we blame the woman for our great folly. God has provided The Woman, whose heel bruised the serpent; an enemy who spent millennia waiting for this blow (Gen 3:15). May we rejoice in its succor!

Mary, Mother of the Word Incarnate who is God from all eternity, pray for us, that we would be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.