Mary for Modern Times (Reflections on Meaning and Message of Marian Devotion)

Nowadays we do come across, on several occasions, lots of queries about the devotion that the Catholics hold for Blessed Mother Mary. In 1995, as a student of Theology in Jnana-Deepa Vidhyapeeth (Papal Seminary), Pune, I was involved with my classmates in a study on neo-Pentecostals, conducted all over India. One of the major objections and criticisms against the Catholics by the Pentecostals was our devotion to the Blessed Mother. We could find that many Catholics, as they could not give convincing explanations for their devotion to Mary were (and are still!) easily overpowered by their arguments and were led to believe what the Pentecostals said was correct. Since then it was in my mind to write a few clarifications for the objections raised by the non-Catholic Denominations, and also give a sort of new dimension to the Devotion itself. Devotion to the Blessed Mother, in my opinion, must be not only consoling but also challenging us, because the brave and courageous face of Mary has been systematically overshadowed by the Church, intentionally otherwise, for the past 2000 years!

The practice of honouring saints was in vogue even during the first century itself. The early Christians believed that the holy people in heaven, who finished their earthly lives, could still help those living on earth, though both the worlds are far apart. After a year of Jesus' resurrection, around 35 AD, St. Stephen became the first one to be martyred for Christ. Then came Sts. Peter, Paul and hundreds of other martyrs, during the reign of Emperor Nero in 64 AD. Many believers were martyred during the religious persecutions, in 135, 180, 222 and 257 AD. Then especially during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (245-313 AD) a large number of Christians were mercilessly executed.

The reason for faith in the intercessions of these martyrs is very simple: The martyrs who fought bravely for Christ would certainly realise how difficult and challenging it would be to live for Jesus and his values. Therefore, they will definitely pray for us to enable us also to shed our blood for the faith. This is what echoed in the following declaration of the Church: Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness... They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped (CCC 956). In the book of Revelation, written about 95 AD, we find reference to the departed souls as follows: "When he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the Altar, the souls of those who were killed for the word of God and for the testimony which they held" (Rev. 6:9). Now, the Biblical scholars explain that this refers to the well-appreciated practice among the people to offer prayers and sacrifices over the cemeteries of the martyrs.

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