Is Mary Competition for Christ?

Here is beautiful reflection courtesy of vivificat1.blogspot.com/

Is Mary Competition for Christ?

Father Nicolas Schwizer

1. Mary leads us to Jesus. We first have to respond to some fears and criticisms regarding Marian piety: Many fear that Mary separates from Christ…..that she is “competition” for Christ…..that she places herself as a “screen” between God and us. At the origin of that fear, there are usually negative experiences caused by off-the-track practices of Marian piety or false focuses on the person of Mary. Such fears do not correspond to the reality desired by God and proclaimed by the Church in her life and in her doctrine.

2. Do what He tells you. John Paul II said: “Mary was truly united to Christ. Not many of her words are preserved in the Bible, but the ones which are take us anew to her Son and to His word. At Cana of Galilee, she addressed the servants with these words: “Do whatever He tells you.” She continues giving us this same message.

“Do whatever He tells you” are the last words of the Virgin preserved in the Gospel. They are, therefore, as if they were her testament. They are words directed not only to the servants at the wedding, but to men and women for all times. They contain the total desire, experience and mission of Mary: to lead us to identify with Christ.

3. Mary is at the center. We all know: that Mary is not the center of our faith…..she is not the true reason for our confidence…..She is not the final aim of our love – rather it is Jesus Christ and with Him, the Triune God. But, we believe She forms part of the mysteries which are central to our faith. Without being the center, Mary is at the center. We believe that Mary, because of her unique position in salvation history, also has a special position in our personal salvation history.

4. The normal way. For us, Mary is the normal way to Jesus Christ. The Fathers of the Church have previously stated: The way by which Christ came to man should also be the way by which we should come to Christ, and Christ came to us through the Virgin. When we give Mary a privileged place in our hearts and we entrust ourselves to her education, then we are on the way to her Son. She then leads us to Christ and the Triune God.

5. The easiest, shortest, and surest way. Mary is not only the normal way to Christ. She is, according to the words of Pope St. Pius X, also the easiest, shortest and surest way to Christ.

Marian devotion is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind: this is manifested by the great enthusiasm with which the image of the Virgin has been received everywhere, and if we love the Virgin so much, then we are already loving Christ.

This is one of the mysterious laws of love. True love implies and includes love for everything and for all who love the beloved. Therefore, love for Mary is extended and becomes – sooner or later – love for Christ.

6. The most fruitful way. Mary is also and lastly, the most fruitful way to Christ. Pope St. Pius X tells us beautifully: “The Blessed Mother gives us vital knowledge of Christ.”

7. It is Mary’s charisma, feminine and maternal charisma: to vitally make the persons of the Trinity approachable…..to give us familiarity with the supernatural world…..to make the Church a home…..to make man a brother. This charisma explains the strength and the rootedness of Marian devotion in the people.

8. The example of the great Saints. The great Saints of all times affirm and prove with their lives, the truth and the importance of this classic way THROUGH MARY TO JESUS. Hardly without exception, they have been men and women of great Marian devotion. Many of them have even consecrated themselves to the Virgin and She, the Virgin, without a doubt, has led them to her Son, even to the height of sanctity.

9. Mary is the land for the encounter with Christ. All the love we give to the Blessed Virgin, She gives to the Lord, and in this way our love finds, through Mary, the easiest, shortest, surest, and most fruitful way to Jesus Christ and God.

Questions for reflection

1. What is Mary for me?

2. Which is my favorite prayer to Mary?

3. What does the phrase “Through Mary to Jesus” tell me?