The unique and special character of the Blessed Virgin’s presence…  
Indeed, it is legitimate to think that the Mother was probably the first person to whom the risen Jesus appeared. Could not Mary’s absence from the group of women who went to the tomb at dawn (cf. Mk 16:1; Mt 28:1) indicate that she had already met Jesus? This inference would also be confirmed by the fact that the first witnesses of the Resurrection, by Jesus’ will, were the women who had remained faithful at the foot of the Cross and therefore were more steadfast in faith.
 
Indeed, the Risen One entrusts to one of them, Mary Magdalene, the message to be passed on to the Apostles (cf. Jn 20:17-18). Perhaps this fact too allows us to think that Jesus showed himself first to his Mother, who had been the most faithful and had kept her faith intact when put to the test.
 
Lastly, the unique and special character of the Blessed Virgin’s presence at Calvary and her perfect union with the Son in his suffering on the Cross seem to postulate a very particular sharing on her part in the mystery of the Resurrection.
 
A fifth-century author, Sedulius, maintains that in the splendour of his risen life Christ first showed himself to his mother. In fact, she, who at the Annunciation was the way he entered the world, was called to spread the marvellous news of the Resurrection in order to become the herald of his glorious coming. Thus bathed in the glory of the Risen One, she anticipates the Church’s splendour cf. Sedulius, Paschale carmen, 5, 357-364, CSEL 10, 140f).
– Pope Saint John Paul II, excerpt from the General Audience given on Wednesday, May 21, 1997
 
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
Happy Easter! 
 
On this Easter Saturday we pause, in the midst of this joyous and glorious set of first Easter Days, to give some attention to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.  In the Passion, Death, and Resurrection accounts the participation of Mary is minor.  Peter, John, and Mary Magdalene hold larger roles in the accounts of these most critical moments in Salvation History.  But, as each of us knows that any good mother – certainly the Mother of God was a good earthly mother – would not be absent, disinterested, or apart from the death of her son, especially her only child.  (We will discuss more on why Jesus is clearly Mary’s only son in another blog post… for now, let’s take the word of the earliest saints that Mary is Ever-Virgin.)  What else would she do then to offer some compassion through her presence throughout the entire suffering of the Lord’s Passion and Death?  And… as Pope Saint John Paul II proposes, is it reasonable to think that Mary would have a ‘unique and special’ participation in the Resurrection – just as she did at the Annunciation, Birth, Crucifixion, and so many of the events of Jesus’ life – as opposed to an absence?  In my own reflections, I think of the mothers I have known who have buried young adult children, each of them is frequently speaking about and visits the grave of their child… I have much confidence in this proposal of Saint John Paul II.  It would be bizarre to propose Mary, the Mother of the Lord, was not with Mary Magdalene that morning to visit the tomb unless there was another, silent, Resurrection Sunday Morning between the Lord and the Virgin of Nazareth (this line of thinking builds upon the Gospel narrative of the Annunciation, in private manner the Lord came to Mary).
 
As always, it’s worth reading this General Audience from May 21, 1997… reading the full text is important to understand the fullness of the thought, cutting out little quotes can be a dangerous action because it could be a manipulation of the author’s intention or argument.  So… I always recommend reading the entire, full text, of the author’s quoted material – whenever possible – and to that end, being careful to read summaries from trusted sources.
 
Also, the presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, in all of Salvation History is not for her own sake.  It’s not as though considering that Mary saw the Risen Christ in the first rays of dawn on Easter Sunday distorts the Christian Faith to exclude some aspect of God’s Love or diminishes the authority of the Gospels as they record the Resurrection of the Lord from the dead.  This line of thinking is often held by non-Catholics, claiming that our admiration for the Mother of God takes away from our Faith in God.  Just as every person has a mother, and knowing a bit about someone’s mother (and family, where they grew up, their friends, education, jobs, etc. …) is important in building a relationship with them, so too this applies to Christ.  Mary is the Mother of the Lord and through her yes the Lord became Man and saved us all… more will be said in other blog posts, on the essential relationship between our salvation and the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, in the plan of Salvation History.  For now, let us seek some insight on Mary’s essential role in the Life of Christ through a quote from the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, from his book ‘The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God’ (yes, this too is worth reading the whole text!): “Our Lord was born not just of her flesh but also by her consent.”
 
So, with Saint John Paul II we dare to meditate on the glory of the Risen Christ with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, as she continues to guide each of us toward a deeper faith in Christ, her son.
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
 
 
 
Regina Caeli & Easter Week
 
The ‘Regina Caeli’ is a beautiful Marian Prayer for the Easter Season.  In fact, the recitation of the Angelus is put aside for the days of Easter – from Easter Sunday through Pentecost Sunday – for this prayer… even the Pope’s Sunday Angelus Addresses are Regina Caeli Addresses during this time, the prayer has changed!  Filled with Alleluia’s it is a most appropriate prayer for the beautiful Easter Season that always includes the month of May, the Month of Mary!  I would encourage each of you to pray this prayer today and continue to pray (perhaps you would even learn the simple chant tone) it daily through Pentecost – here is a link to the text of prayer.
 
As I have all week, I continue to encourage you to pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary each day this week.  Also, I suggest that you read and pray with the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection (Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-7; Lk. 24:1-12; and Jn. 20:1-9).  Also, I invite each of you to pray with Scriptures for Easter Sunday Mass and the Scriptures for Today’s Holy Mass.  It would be good, in these most important days of our faith for you to pray a Spiritual Communion as you spiritually unite your time of prayer to the offering of the Holy Mass.
 
And, please pray the final day of the Divine Mercy Novena!
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
 
Know of my prayers for you, please pray for me!
 
Father Wilke
 
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!