Filed under: Poems
God the Father, holding Christ Crucified in His arms (embroidered image)
God’s Fatherhood as I see and sense it.
by Sister M. Linus Coyle
At night, alone, with the Lord and Mary,
I look up to the Fatherhood of God
and weep.
How many children again that day, O God,
willfully torn from a mother’s womb
deprived so brutally of its own life
with all the hopes that life possessed
but unable to encounter or to develop
that purpose for glory God had created!
Each, a child, yes a child:
never to know or to teach;
never to choose or to give;
never to belong or to accept;
never to be loved or to love others;
never to trust or to offer hope;
neither to find nor to show goodness;
neither to praise nor to thank God for
beauty with happy, joy-filled smile
with human voice or song,
and all the while fulfilling God’s plans
to be glorified within this personhood.
No, Christ had no chance to enter, nor to
achieve His Father’s plan within.
… and I weep for them, for all of us.
For life would never know that which was God’s desire
for those whom they’d companion or generate.
Lord of mercy, Lord of love,
forgive and transform all hearts,
this day, this night. Amen
God the Father, holding Christ Crucified in His arms (embroidered image) (detail)
Sister M. Linus Coyle belongs to the order of the Sisters of the Presentation. She receives our e-newsletter and sent us this poem/reflection on the dignity of each unborn child conceived in the image and likeness of God and on the sadness we all feel because of abortion.
Filed under: Biblical Reflections, Incarnation, Mother of the Lord, Unborn Jesus
Nardo di Cione, 1346-m. 1365, Madonna del parto , Firenze, San Lorenzo: 1365
Our prior six posts* have considered the mystery of Mary’s contemplation and remembrance of all the significant events, revelations and Divine inspirations that occurred in her life, and in the lives of others nearby, during the course of her nine month pregnancy. With Christ alive just inches beneath her listening heart, she was the living echo of God’s abundant grace during those initial months of the Incarnation.
It fell upon her, that is, it was an integral part of her office as Mother to the Incarnate Word, to be exquisitely attentive to every event, revelation and inspiration concerning her Son during His entire life, but especially during the sacred months of her pregnancy while she was the only one in direct communion with Him.
Before the apostles had ever been chosen or an Apostles Creed had been formulated, she was the contemplative memory of the Church (as John Paul II would say). Before the great St. Paul was converted, Mary was pondering in her heart the deepest mysteries of Christ, and marveling at the Plan of Salvation as it was unfolding – first, within her body, as a softly lit light, and later as a glowing beacon for all of Israel to behold. She carried the church’s forming Creed in her heart while carrying humanity’s developing Unborn Redeemer within her womb.
With the birth of Christ came yet another cloudburst of inspired witnesses: the angels spoke to the shepherds and the shepherds came to worship and told Mary and Joseph what they had been told. Next, the three wise men from the East came and also shared their wisdom. At the Temple, holy Simeon and the prophetess Anna were inspired to speak of the Christ child. An angel appeared to Joseph to instruct him. As Mary and Joseph fled with their newborn Son, Christ now became a political problem and death for young children was the King’s answer to the problem of Christ.
We do not have time here to sift through all of these wondrous happenings in this “fourth trimester” – the months immediately following the Nativity – but the Holy Spirit was extremely active and gracious during this hallowed time as well.
*This 7th post concludes this series.
Statue de la Vierge enceinte, seul reste de cette L’abbaye des Allois (moniales bénédictines
This is our sixth post in a series exploring the Creed of Christian faith being revealed to Mary during her pregnancy, trimester by trimester, event by event. We now come to the third trimester. Lk 2:1-7 explains that Caesar has inadvertently determined the place for the Christ Child to be born. According to the census (enrollment) ordered by Caesar, Joseph would have to travel to Bethlehem to fulfill his obligation. Mary (and Unborn Jesus) would accompany him.
Micah the prophet had prophesied this eventuality (see Micah 5:2, Mt 2:4-6):
“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will govern my people Israel.” Mt 2:6
Before hearing of the enrollment, Mary probably did not know for certain where her Son would be born. This news from Rome was like a piece of a puzzle, which enabled Mary to connect the dots and it is very possible she related the above text from Micah to her specific travel itinerary, and praised God. The verse not only identifies the place of the birth, but states that her Son will be “a ruler who will govern my people Israel”. Mary can now add this information to all of the prior information she had been receiving from angels (Gabriel and the angel of the Lord), remnant Saints (Elizabeth, Zechariah, Joseph) and the Holy Spirit. Now politicians and prophets are enlightening her concerning the Will of God and the mystery of the Incarnation.
It is worth noting also that during these nine months Mary clearly would have ascribed other Old Testament prophecies to her Son (and herself) and would have been thereby further enlightened. One example should suffice: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa 7:14). If nothing else, she could derive from this verse the fact that she as virgin Mother held a Messianic office and the prophets through the centuries were preparing the people for this great dawning of the Messianic Age.
The third trimester ends when the child leaves the womb and is born. So we still have another third trimester event to consider. Mary and Unborn Jesus, along with Joseph, were turned away at the Inn “because there was no place for them”. Here is a profound message for Mary about the difficulty and rejection in store for her Son. Like many of the prophets before Him, her son would no doubt meet with some rejection. (Mary may have even gone so far as to possibly relate the Messianic Psalm 22 to her Son even now, before He had even been born: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”; verse 1).
So they end up in a manger, in humility, and she senses the meekness of God’s Plan for her Son, even now before He is born. She intuitively senses here in this manger, the order of Creation, and perceives that her Son has come indeed to restore a proper order to all things; from the animal kingdom to the angelic realms. She will no longer be heavy with child, but her heart will remain full of Incarnation truths and mysteries, both lived and believed.
The Expectant Madonna with Saint Joseph, 15th century French, National Gallery of Art, Samuel H. Kress Collection
Artist . Brother Claude Lane, O.S.B Title The Dream of Joseph Location Mt. Angel Abbey, Oregon On one side Joseph is pictured as a traveler, his feet still in movement, and carrying a knapsack. The Angel is pictured on the other side.
We all know of Joseph’s dilemma. But when did this occur? Mary (and Unborn Jesus) probably returned to Nazareth after visiting Elizabeth (unborn/newborn John) and Zechariah, just as the second trimester of Mary’s pregnancy was getting underway. The first page of the New Testament presents this huge problem and holy solution: somehow Mary “was found to be with child” (Mt 1:19). An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream:
“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”.
Joseph does as the angel instructs him. And he tells Mary what he was told by God’s messenger. This is the pattern, each person drawn into the Messianic Mission shares his or her inspiration or spiritual experience with Mary (or she in fact witnesses it) and as John Paul II says “Mary is the contemplative “memory” of the Church…” Message for 77th World Mission Day #3. She cherishes the revealed information within her heart and memory. Let’s consider four points from the angel’s instruction.
“Son of David” – this is how the angel addresses Joseph. It is as if Joseph is given a “Messianic office” while he will faithfully do the will of God, parenting the true Son of God. Mary can see in this the supernatural dignity of Joseph’s role as adoptive father of her son. Her relationship with Joseph is solidified and they will act as a team, in harmony with God who is closely watching over their lives. Thirty years hence, Joseph’s son will be called by the same title on many occasions (Mt 9:27, 12:23, 21:9, Mk 10:48). This title then is shared between father and son; perhaps Mary sensed that this would be one of her son’s titles.
“Holy Spirit” – this reference to God is a New Testament term, and here it is on the very first page of the New Testament, revealed for the world to hear, by the angel of the Lord to Joseph. But the same term, “Holy Spirit”, had already been spoken to Mary in the same context, by Gabriel. For Mary this is not a coincidence, not even a mere confirmation, it is a holy revelation of the first order – it was fitting that it was revealed to Joseph not by human lips, but by the breath of an angel, commissioned to deliver the message for the glory of God and for the particular good of Mary and her Unborn Son. The angel’s words to Joseph were a sign for him, a sign for Mary and a timeless sign for the universal Church.
“Jesus” – we spoke earlier about this name. Mary sees here the intimate detail revealed to her alone thus far, now being shared by God with one other special person. The family of three is now complete, built up around this Name, this Person; “Jesus”.
“He will save his people from their sins” – finally, here is the reason for the Incarnation, the reason for this Messianic Mission! This is a supernatural remedy for the fallen condition of humanity. Adam and Eve’s misdeeds will be undone by this Savior. Mary is given a ringing proclamation to ponder, a motto for her life which will always give perspective to every event, every question, every hope. Mary can read between the lines here and see one word loud and clear: MERCY. Her Son, as Savior, will embody God’s Mercy.
The early Creed of Christianity, in its embryonic statement is taking shape within the heart of Mary, encounter by encounter, methodically, trimester by trimester. But one other sign came to Mary during this second trimester, not mentioned in the bible, but mentioned by every woman who has ever carried an unborn baby to term; the Unborn Son of God poked her, pushed at her, prodded her – with His hands, His feet, even His elbows – what did she think of that?
Mary and Elisabeth Meet Zachariah Lorenzo Salimbeni
Luke 1:56 tells us that Mary (and Unborn Jesus) stayed with Elizabeth (and unborn John) and Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah for three months. Most spiritual writers through the centuries have understood this to mean that Mary was present for John’s birth (and for the circumcision and naming of John eight days later). In fact, many believe that it was Mary who told Luke the details of these various events – or if not Mary directly, that Luke learned of them through a Marian tradition.
The priest Zechariah was the first representative of Israel to be informed of the immediate coming of the Messiah. See Lk 1:5-25. When Gabriel appeared to Zechariah he received but a lukewarm reception. Gabriel was not impressed and struck Zechariah silent, unable to speak. Nonetheless, Zechariah would have relayed the words and events in a written form to his wife Elizabeth and also to his guest and relative Mary (especially since Mary was the mother of the Messiah).
Mary would have been immensely interested in every word that Gabriel spoke. While most of the angelic message was actually about the son Elizabeth would bear, there were multiple references to the Lord (v. 15, 16, 17). Curiously, and in light of Gabriel’s next visit to a representative of Israel – that is, Mary in Nazareth – each of these references to “the Lord” could be understood also as references to Jesus. (Recall Elizabeth’s later comment when Mary arrived: “And why is this granted me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” v.43)
All of these references to “the Lord” revealed that there would be a period of preparation during which John would have a tremendous ministry to the people of Israel. One reason this is significant is because it indirectly predicts the early success of “Christianity” within Israel (for example on Pentecost and following). At any rate, this was an optimistic message from the angel about what was to come, albeit, within an indefinite time frame.
Not only was Gabriel’s message to Zechariah very optimistic, but Gabriel even described it in a telling phrase: “I was sent…to bring you this good news” (v. 19). This characterization by God’s messenger of what is coming, confirms in Mary’s mind that God’s Mercy is at work and is a wondrous force for good and blessing. But perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of Gabriel’s message was when he said of Elizabeth’s son: “he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (v. 15). This explains the mystery of John leaping for joy when the Unborn Christ approaches him and Mary greets Elizabeth. Would Mary remember that spectacular event more than thirty years later when she was in the Upper Room with the early Church on Pentecost Day when the Holy Spirit would fill each member of the Church? (see Acts 1:13-14, 2:1-4).
Finally after the baby’s birth, when Zechariah obediently names his son John – according to Gabriel’s instructions – Zechariah is now filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks! He proclaims what we now call the Benedictus (Lk 1:67-79). Zechariah points to the mystery of Salvation that is dawning upon Israel. He speaks of Christ as “a horn of salvation” raised up by God Most High. Mary is nearby with this “horn of salvation”, the Christ, growing within her womb (unbeknownst to the neighbors gathered around for the blessed ceremonies). Zechariah confirms that all of this is “as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old” – a phrase reminiscent of the Nicene Creed reference: “We believe in the Holy Spirit…He has spoken through the prophets”.
So once again, Mary is the recipient of all of this Divinely inspired information about the Messiah, His mission, the meaning of it, the supporting characters involved and so on. Mary’s heart is like a holy depository of sacred Messianic information. Mary – because God has called her to this function, as part of her “office” as the mother of “the Son of God” – is now the filter, the arbiter of the message of salvation, carrying it within her heart, to deliver at the appropriate time (while she carries the Christ within her, to be delivered after nine months).
This post is the 3rd in our series on the Creed developing within Mary’s Intellect and Heart as the Christ Child develops within her womb. We turn now to the Visitation: Lk 1:39-55.
The Holy Spirit is extremely active during the various exchanges and actions when Mary (and Unborn Jesus) arrive at the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth and specifically when Mary greets Elizabeth (and Unborn John) and when Elizabeth responds. Luke tells us that “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.’” So, Elizabeth refers to Mary’s unborn child (about one week after conception) as “my Lord”. This is revelatory! Elizabeth has identified Unborn Jesus as Messiah and Lord, and Mary as the Messiah’s mother. Elizabeth states that it is a privilege to have the mother of the Messiah and Lord visit her.
What does Mary learn from Elizabeth’s inspired words? First, let it be said that everything about God is extremely personal. God is NOT distant, obtuse, detached from His Creation and creatures! He has become Incarnate. He has fulfilled what He promised. A week ago Gabriel said that Mary had “found favor with God” (Lk 1:30). Now Elizabeth is acknowledging that Mary has a special relationship with God and is blessed for believing “that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her”. This highlights Mary’s personal relationship with God. It is a beautiful relationship; alive in trust, bursting with expectation! Mary is being rewarded for obeying God and believing in the words spoken to her. This is God’s way of thanking Mary for accepting this motherhood of a Divine Person; the Son of God. So Mary sees and tastes the Goodness of God in the words of Elizabeth. This is living the Creed. The Creed in Mary’s heart says that “God is All Good, God is Most Faithful”. This belief drove her onward to Bethlehem, to Egypt, to Cana, to the foot of the cross, to the Upper Room and to Heaven.
But most of all, Mary hears her unborn child called “Lord”! She hears herself called “mother of (the) Lord”. These are titles, and offices. Elizabeth is testifying – albeit, indirectly – that Mary has been given a singular office by Almighty God; ‘mother of the Lord’. This is a sacred duty and obligation in service to the Mission of her Son (see prior post for Gabriel’s description of her Son). With the leaping of unborn John in his mother’s womb (caused by Unborn Jesus) and Elizabeth’s comments, Mary has now seen that her Son’s mission has already begun. She knows from firsthand experience that God is acting here and now, and that the Son of the Most High is the focal point of everything – she is her Son’s handmaiden.
The next 10 verses are Mary’s famous inspired response and are called the Magnificat for the opening line: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” Note the two words “Lord” and “Savior”. Incredibly, Mary is perceiving that these two titles, which she would have used in the past to describe the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, can now also be used to describe her (unborn) Son. This is a fundamental unfolding Revelation of the first order. Elizabeth used the word “Lord” and Mary responds using the same term. But she says “my soul magnifies the Lord” because He is within her, and she is reflective of His Presence as Elizabeth stated. Mary is inspired to use the term ‘Savior’ also. Mary is in a unique position, for when she speaks of God, she is speaking not only of her Creator Yahweh, but also of that Son growing within her. She is associating her Son with the term ‘Savior’, now pointing to the redemptive reality that is dawning upon Israel, twice referencing God’s mercy.
Mary’s Magnificat is centered upon the reality of God; referring at least 18 times to God (he, his, him, and so on). The last verse of the Magnificat recalls God’s relationship with Abraham. Mary is showing the continuity of God’s personal redemptive relationship with the people of Israel, and her Magnificat seems to recapitulate that historical relationship. Abraham was the Father of their faith – now Mary is the Mother of their Savior. She is discovering these truths of the Incarnation as she is living them (and she was inspired by the Holy Spirit as she gave voice to these truths). Her Magnificat offers a holy glimpse into the Creed that is taking hold of her heart, a unique Creed, a mixture of faith, hope, love and maternity – a tender personal Creed especially due to this fourth mentioned element; maternity. Every Christian can learn of this palpable Creed by sharing in Mary’s intimate perspective on her unborn Savior Son!
Our next post will consider the three months Mary (and Unborn Jesus) spent with Zechariah, Elizabeth (and unborn, then newborn John).
In our last post we listed the extraordinary events and Revelations which unfolded in the life of Mary (and Unborn Jesus) during the nine months of her pregnancy. Our list was presented trimester-by-trimester and relied upon the Gospels of Luke and Matthew for scriptural facts. Today’s post is part of a series of upcoming posts reflecting upon the content of the Revelations given to Mary, trimester-by-trimester; the meaning and significance of these Revelations will be discussed.
FIRST TRIMESTER:
Luke 1:28, 30: The initial mystery of her favored relationship to God is revealed to Mary by Gabriel.
Lk 1:31-33 The miraculous nature of her impending pregnancy is revealed to Mary. That her child will be a male, and will be “called the Son of the Most High”, that He will be given the throne of David, will reign forever and there will be no end to His kingdom. This means that her Son will be a King, not just an earthly King by an eternal King, with subjects. Many Christians think of Christ’s kingship as symbolic, but it is not merely symbolic – it is a real and true kingship, in fact Christ is the true measure of all Kings (and Queens) throughout history. There is an incredibly personal and poignant word given to Mary also about this pregnancy, this Son: “you shall call his name Jesus”. Here begins the magnificent Christian devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. It was a name she would embrace in prayer, a name to whisper, a name to marvel at, a name like no other name – a name she discovered by the hour, a name sent down from Heaven upon the head of her baby.
Lk 1:35 This has to be the most fantastic truth ever revealed to a human being!!! The Archangel Gabriel explains how the Incarnation will take place. The child “will be called holy, the Son of God” because the child will be conceived, as the Nicene Creed says, “by the power of the Holy Spirit” and as Gabriel says “ The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…” Virtually the entire first half of the Nicene Creed is embedded here in the cumulative words of Gabriel to Mary! Mary represents the Church and Gabriel is the messenger of God “Most High”. He is revealing the first mystical kernel of the Christian Creed to Mary and she will embrace it body and soul – she will live the Creed. The Church’s belief in the Incarnation will be rooted in this evangelical exchange. Mary will tell the Church what she was told and the Church will cling to this holy revelation, her martyrs will cling to it with their dying breaths!
Lk 1:36-37 Gabriel tells Mary about the pregnancy of Elizabeth, putting everything into perspective: “For with God nothing will be impossible”. (Approximately a week later, when Mary sees with her own eyes that Elizabeth is, in fact, six months pregnant, she will understand all the more emphatically, the power in the words revealed to her.)
Lk 1:38 Mary’s response to this litany of heavenly revelations has calmed Christians for two thousand years: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” In her heart she now has the key to human history, the hope of humanity, the revelation of all God’s promises in one Word. As the Fathers of the Church would say, she conceives in her heart before conceiving in her womb.
She immediately conceives in her womb – now Christ is physically growing within her womb and the Christian Creed is mystically growing within her intellect and heart. The Creed – in embryonic state – is taking root in a human heart.
Our next post will consider the Visitation (Lk 1:39-45, 46-55).
Mary’s pregnancy was unique for dozens of reasons. One aspect of her pregnancy that has been neglected is the corresponding Revelations she received regularly throughout the pregnancy which are explicitly referenced in the Gospels but almost universally overlooked. God wanted her to be illuminated in her intellect and heart while she was nurturing within her womb the growing mystery of salvation; the Incarnate Son of God.
Let’s do a quick review of these Revelations by trimester (approximated). Note that each Revelation is either directly given to her by an angel of God or by the Holy Spirit or by persons who were directly instructed by angels or inspired by the Holy Spirit. (And all of these direct Revelations presuppose a profound and holy grasp of her foundational Israelite faith, including a superior knowledge of Hebrew scripture).
FIRST TRIMESTER: Luke 1:26-38 (this Revelation was given in conjunction with the conception of Christ), Lk 1:39-45, Lk 1:46-55 (these two occurred about one week later). Mary stayed with Elizabeth and Zechariah for three months and the following Revelations were given her: Lk 1:5-25, Lk 1:57-79. (We are assuming that Mary who experienced these events or had them relayed to her firsthand, passed them on to Luke.)
SECOND TRIMESTER: Matthew 1:20-24 (cross reference Isaiah 7:14). Joseph is instructed by an angel and no doubt revealed to Mary exactly what he had been told.
THIRD TRIMESTER: Luke 2:1-7 (cross reference Micah 5:2).
FOURTH TRIMESTER ? – REVELATIONS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING
THE NATIVITY: Luke 2:8-20, Lk 2:21, Lk 2:22-38, Matthew 2:1-11, Mt 2:12-18.
Mary is tutored by God throughout her pregnancy and immediately following the birth of Jesus. As she was living God’s Plan of Salvation, minute-by-minute, experiencing these grace-charged events, she was also being given Revealed teachings from God (directly and indirectly). We have listed a sequence of both events and Revelations above. In our next post, we will reflect upon the “Revealed teachings” given to Mary during these months, in part to prepare and strengthen her as she embraced her role as an intimate supporting collaborator in the Incarnation Mission of Jesus Christ.
As Mary flees for Egypt, her womb is now empty, but her intellect is full, her heart even fuller…with love for the child in her arms.
El Greco (1541-1614) St. Luke (detail)
The first reading in Sunday’s Catholic Mass (7-12-09) was from the 7th chapter of Amos. It recounts a well known confrontation between Amos and the established priesthood in 8th century Israel. Amos is the outsider who God sends to the powerful to shake them up and set them straight, but the powerful elite reject humble Amos, and rejecting him, they consequently are rejecting God also.
The priest of Bethel, Amaziah, who is close to King Jeroboam, tells Amos that he is not welcome. Amos responds by emphatically stressing the point that he is no “professional” prophet, not a member of some elite class of religious functionaries, rather he was recruited for this job by God Himself: “I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel…”
Today, around the world there are hundreds of thousands of Pro Life prophets who God has inspired to help pregnant women, help the unborn in various ways, to speak out for a Culture of Life. These men and women can say to the “Elite” politicians, journalists, doctors, judges, lawyers, professors, social engineers and social workers, as Amos did; “I am no professional pundit… I am no establishment-paid prophet, I am a housewife, a repairman, a salesman, a clerk, and the Lord took me and said to me ‘Go, bear witness to the Gospel of Life which I have given to the people as a gift to guide them in their lives and in their families.’”
The prophetic office is associated with witnessing to the truth revealed by God to His Church, but also to witnessing to the truth about human life. The Pro Life movement worldwide is thus a prophetic movement inspired by God. While we do not find our bearings through polls, yet Pro Life prophets can find some small consolation in the fact that the majority of Americans in a Gallup Poll (51%) “now call themselves pro-life rather than pro-choice on the issue of abortion”. Gallup has asked this question annually for the past 15 years and this is the first year a majority have answered this way – up from 44% last year! (Associated Press, 5/16/09)
PRO LIFE PROPHETS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John agree. When the Son of God came into the world He was not warmly received.
There was a saying in Israel: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46) Yet it was precisely there – to Nazareth – that God sent His holy messenger “the angel Gabriel” to address the woman chosen to be the Mother of Jesus – and Mary conceived of the Holy Spirit there in Nazareth. Yes, the salvation of humanity comes out of Nazareth!
Years later Jesus would explain that “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Mt 8:20, also Lk 9:57) Yet it is true, that the Unborn Son of man laid His head to rest within the womb of His mother for nine sacred months! Her womb, like her heart was full of the love of God!
The Lord told us also: “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” (Mk 6:4, also Lk 4:24). And yet when Mary (and her unborn Child) arrived at the home of her cousin Elizabeth (who was six months pregnant with John the Baptist), Unborn Jesus was warmly received by Elizabeth and her unborn son John who leaped in the womb for joy!
After spending three months with Elizabeth (and John…unborn, then finally born), Mary returned to Nazareth. “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not” (Jn 1:11).
So, we see that in the initial months of the Incarnation, the Son of God was lovingly welcomed and received by two women and an unborn baby: Mary, Elizabeth and unborn John the Baptist. The prophets had spoken of “a remnant” of faithful Israelites – here were three faithful ones, waiting for the prayers of their ancestors to be answered.
Filed under: Inspirational Pro-life leaders
The Rev. Walter Hoye, who was convicted of violating Oakland’s ‘bubble law’ and served 18 days in prison, is particularly concerned about the high number of abortions among African American women.
Today we would like to feature two outstanding African-American clergymen who are courageously standing up for the rights of unborn children in America. We encourage visitors to our blog to take a few minutes to read the links we are providing on these two great inspirational men.
Reverend Walter Hoye, a Baptist minister, was recently imprisoned for peacefully praying and protesting in front of an abortion facility in Oakland California. His comments about the current situation in America are very insightful. Read these comments and others about his amazing 18 days in prison and his prison visit by the new Catholic Bishop of Oakland, Bishop Salvatore Cordileone.
Anti-abortion minister urges action by African Americans By Gerald Korson
Father John Raphael, SSJ speaking at ND Response Rally
Father John Raphael, SSJ (a graduate of Notre Dame University, who is still active with the ND community) gave a powerful pro-life speech at the ND Response rally on May 17th, 2009, at Notre Dame University. This Josephite priest, is a great pro-life leader. He is the principal of St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. This high school was recently described by the New Orleans Times-Picayune as “a seedbed of black leadership in New Orleans”. We are big fans of the Josephite Order of priests who organize a large enthusiastic contingent for the January 22 March for Life in Washington every year. See below for links relating to Father John, the Josephite Order and St. Augustine H.S. :
Fr. John Raphael to Speak at NRLC Convention By Dave Andrusko
The Josephite Fathers and Brothers have declared ourselves as “Pro-Life, Pro-Chastity, Pro-Family.”
St. Augustine School Pro-life club
Teens participate in annual Pro-Life conference held at St. Augustine High School
St. Augustine student describes his experience at the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
The most frequent representations of pregnancy in medieval and early-modern Christian art show the expectant Virgin Mary. Jesus is depicted as a child inside her transparent womb or, in sculptures, within a niche closed by glass doors. This early-18th-century oil painting is found in the Diocesan Museum, St Pölten, Austria.
With the stoning of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr “a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem” and “Saul laid waste the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison” (Act 8:1,3). Paul got authorization from the High Priest to go to other cities and round about Christians, so he set out for Damascus. The story of his conversion is well known. A light flashes around him, he falls to the ground and he and his companions hear a voice: “’Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus who you are persecuting…’” (Acts 9:1-5).
It has frequently been noted that Saul was persecuting Christians (or as they were called back then, followers of ‘the Way’). So Saul, we assume was surprised by the question posed to him; “…why do you persecute me?”…”me” as it turned out being “Jesus”. Saul probably did not think he was persecuting “Jesus” who he thought to be merely a dead controversial rabbi. Yet, it is revealed to him that in persecuting followers of ‘the Way’ he indeed is directly persecuting Jesus.
Today, in a very different set of circumstances, we see a worldwide persecution of unborn babies…an unrelenting persecution. The persecutors all have legal authorization to do their deadly deeds, in fact, in some quarters many of them are considered heroes (just as Paul probably was in his zealous roundup of defenseless Christians). These unborn children – each on his or her ‘Way’ to being born – are each personally identified with Jesus. Millions of our fellow citizens would be shocked if they heard the words from Unborn Jesus calling them by name and asking them: “Why do you persecute me?” But we have similar words from Jesus in the New Testament: “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me…” (Mt 18:5) And “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).
Many abortionists and women who have had abortions (and men involved with abortion) have had their own conversion on the road to Damascus when each, in his or her own way, have heard Jesus personally calling them and asking “Why do you persecute me?” And they have become inspired and eloquent defenders of the unborn, following in the footsteps of St. Paul. Let us continue to pray for those who support and promote abortion, just as St. Stephen prayed for Saul and his misguided companions (Acts 7:60).
detail of Unborn Jesus from The pregnant Virgin
This statue of the “Virgin Mary of Hope Expectant” was on display at Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Fort Myers July 25 during a Novena for Life Mass. The statue appeared at different parishes throughout the nine-month novena.
I wanted to let you know about a wonderful group called Laity for Life because one of their objectives is to “provide spiritual and moral support for lay Catholics who are active in the pro-life movement”. Other objectives of the group are to ‘train Catholics to be persuasive pro-life speakers and encourage Church financial support for pro-life efforts’.
One way that they are fulfilling this objective is by promoting a Novena of Masses for Life. They have “borrowed and broadened the term ‘Novena’ to refer to the nine months of Our Lady’s pregnancy”.
During 2008 a series of 28 Masses for Life were celebrated throughout the Diocese of Venice in Florida starting on the feast of the Annunciation and thereafter on the 25th of each month until Christmas. Click here to see a schedule of these Masses. A statue of “Virgin Mary of Hope Expectant” was brought to each of these Masses throughout the Diocese. The statue was designed by Antonio Reyes of Ecuador. These Masses for Life bring Catholics together to pray for the unborn and to open their hearts to God for the spiritual strength needed to bring about a new culture of life.
This year they have expanded the Masses for Life to include 48 parishes and 121 Novena Masses following the same schedule from the Annunciation to Christmas. Click here to see the 2009 schedule. Laity for Life wants to promote the Novena of Masses for Life all over the U.S.. If you would be interested in working with Laity for Life on this project you can contact them at :
LAITY for LIFE, Inc.
P.O. Box 111478
Naples FL 34108
VoiceMail : 239.352.6333
E-Mail: info@LaityForLife.org
Here is a new ad from CatholicVote,org. According to an article in the National Register, this new pro-life video ad has “initial acceptance” for broadcast on the closing episode of “American Idol.” Click here to read the article.
Filed under: Quotes from Great Christians, Thriving Not Just Surviving!, Unborn Jesus
Here are three insightful quotes about patience.
“Defending the dignity of the human person requires detachment from immediate results. We’re in this for the long term.… We have no right to despair and we have no reason to despair. Rev. Richard John Neuhaus
From an article by Colleen Carroll Campbell: A Lgacy of Connection and Common Ground in a Fragmented World
One of my favorite quotes from Mother St. Paul’s book Ortus Christi is about patience.
“Patience is a twofold grace, that of waiting and that of suffering, both are a great aid to zeal. The Eternal Word’s zeal for the salvation of men had existed in all its perfection and all its fullness from all eternity, yet think how long He waited! When the conditions were changed and He had at length become incarnate, He still waited patiently for nine months, and after that He waited for thirty years! This was zeal, zeal in its perfection. Is my zeal tempered with patience?”
Here is a interesting and encouraging quote about patience and perseverance from John Quincy Adams.
“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.”John Quincy Adams (1767-1848)
Here is a great cartoon courtesy of Jack Higgins and the Chicago Sun-Times
Mary Ann Glendon was to have received the Laetare Award at Notre Dame. Last week, she declined the award because of the controversy surrounding the University’s decision to invite pro-abortion President Barak Obama to give the commencement address. Her daughter Elizabeth Lev has written a wonderful piece which explains her mother’s decision. Click here to read the entire article.
Here is Elizabeth Lev’s answer to the claim that Mary Ann Glendon’s speech would have brought balance to the event and help facilitate an engagement with the President on the issue of life.
Your notion that her “training in diplomacy” might somehow ease this situation does not take into account that she has a five-minute acceptance speech and he will have a lengthy commencement speech. There is no “engaging” here. Diplomacy generally teaches that if you have a rapier and your opponent has a missile launcher, try not to engage.
That Professor Glendon “did not like that Notre Dame was claiming her speech would serve to balance the event” is again facile and simplistic. What is there to like in being the deflector screen for inviting a profoundly divisive figure to give the commencement speech? What is likeable about a Catholic University named for the most important woman in Christianity exploiting a woman who has already dedicated her life to protecting the Church’s teaching by turning her into a warm-up act for a grotesque twist on a reality show?
Thanks to Genevieve Kineke at Feminine Genius for bringing this to our attention.
Can you help Valerie Aschbacher from Mary Full of Life erect a billboard similar to the one shown above, but in in St. Joseph Country for all at Notre Dame to see? Her request for approval of the billboard has been accepted, and the price for the month of May is $800. + $100 for production costs. She is donating $300 to the cause. If you can help with a donation please contact her at this email: info@maryfulloflife.org
UNBORN WORD of the day 