MONDAY OF THE 10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR (C)
Mystery of the day: Joyful
Celebration: Memorial of Mary Mother of the Church.
Theme:... and she untied the knot of Eve's disobedience by her obedience.
Today, marks the first day in the second part of the Ordinary Time of the year. Incidentally, the memorial of Mary Mother of the Church for this year falls on this day. A very good beginning, and timely where the Church - bride of Christ in this part of the world is experiencing series of attack. We are not in any way doubting the Maternal intercession of our dear Mother, whose patronage and assistance has never failed us.
She has been the harbinger of goodness to humanity, mediates and then in a motherly manner request favours from her Son on our behalf as she did at the wedding feast in Cana (cf. John 2:1-11).
This kind gesture of her, recalled the words of the first century Church man and second generation disciple from the Apostle John - St. Irenaeus of Lyon who avers: "...the knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. What the virgin Eve had bound in unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosed through faith." (Against Heresies, 3.22.4, Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons.)
Today, as we celebrate this great feast, which was instituted by Pope St. Paul VI.Though the title "Mater Ecclesiae" first appeared in the 4th century writings of St. Ambrose of Milan as rediscovered by Hugo Rahner. Pope Benedict XIV also used the title in 1748, and Pope Leo XIII in 1885. It was Pope St.John Paul II who placed the title in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the current Pontiff, Francis inserted this title into the Roman Calendar. This, it becomes, an annual memorial throughout the universal Church.
However, in the light of this celebration, we invoke her maternal intercession upon our country Nigeria at this moment of crisis, that peace may return and everyone may live in accord with one another. Peace, be with you!
Let us pray
Dearest Saviour, while hanging on the cross, you gave your mother Mary to be the mother of John, let your children here in Nigeria experience the maternal intercssion of your Mother as we celebrate her today. So that we may once again be filled with sense of stillness.We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
© The ARCHIVE 06062022
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