When the Church imitates Mary’s life

The Marian Church follows Mary on the mountain and goes with her to meet life. She visits women and men and, beyond their apparent sterility, she is on the lookout for what is born, what is possible, for the life that pulsates in them…

The Marian Church knows that God loves her with an un-earned love and that God has the heart of a mother. She has seen God, on the threshold, watching for the improbable return of the son; she has seen him throwing his arms around his neck, putting the festive ring on his finger and organizing the family reunion feast himself ...

When she flips through the family album, she sees Zacchaeus on his sycamore, Matthew and the publicans, an adulterous woman, a Samaritan woman, strangers, lepers, beggars, a common prisoner on his execution post. So you see, the Marian Church does not despair of anyone. She does not extinguish the wick that still smokes. When she finds someone on the side of the road, hurt by life, she has compassion. And with infinite kindness, she heals his wounds. She is the safe harbor, always open, the refuge of sinners, Mater Misericordiae, the mother of mercy.

The Marian Church lets in the breeze of Pentecost, the wind that pushes one out and loosens tongues. And she speaks in the public square. Not to assert a doctrine, not to swell her ranks: but to proclaim that the promise has been kept, that the fight has been won, that the Dragon has been crushed forever…

On the cross, we saw "mercy" itself, the open heart of our God. It is there, at the foot of the cross, that a people was born, a Marian people. Sisters and brothers, let us be of this people. Let us take Mary into our home. 

Brother François Marc, sm

Excerpts from a poetic meditation published on Tuesday, January 24, 2006.