“The genuine significance of Catholic devotion to Mary is to be seen in the light of the Incarnation itself. The Church cannot separate the Son and the Mother. Because the Church conceived of the Incarnation as God’s descent into flesh and into time, and His great gift of Himself to His creatures, she also believes that the one who was closest to Him in this great mystery was the one who participated most perfectly in the gift. When a room is heated by an open flame, surely there is nothing strange in the fact that those who stand closest to the fireplace are the ones who are warmest. And when God comes into the world through the instrumentality of one of His servants, then there is nothing surprising about the fact that His chosen instrument should have the greatest and most intimate share in the divine gift.” -- Thomas Merton
That from The Anchoress on Facebook. It sums things up nicely.
Tonight, Father Mike's homily struck a simliar chord. He asked how saintly might a person be if said person experienced every facet of Christ's life. He then spoke eloquently and movingly of Mary's proximity to Jesus. How she experienced His birth (quite obviously), His life, His death, His resurrection. How holy might anyone be had they done the same? How holy then is the mother of God? Why not devote ourselves to and learn from such a person, someone nearer to God than anyone before and since.
I think Merton nailed it. God's chosen instrument should indeed have the greatest and most intimate share in the divine gift.
Why not devote ourselves to that instrument and share in that intimacy?
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