HOPELESS?
What can stop the world from plunging into the unknown darkness which threatens peace? Now that diplomacy has failed, what is left for us to do?
It seems almost hopeless. In fact, I have never heard Pope John Paul II speak in such grave terms as he has lately.
I found this comment in a national newspaper in February:
“The difficulties on the world horizon present at the start of this new millennium lead us to believe only an act from on high can make us hope in a future that is less bleak.” (Reuters News Agency, February 2003)
Again, today the Holy Father warned the world that we do not know what consequences await us if war is made on Iraq. The sternness of the pope led the CEO of the world’s largest Catholic television network, EWTN, to state:
“Our Holy Father has been begging and pleading that we pray and fast. This Vicar of Christ on earth knows something, I’m convinced, that we do not know — that the results of this war, if it takes place will be a disaster, not just for a city, like Nineveh, but for the world.” (Deacon William Steltemeier, 7am Mass, March 12th, 2003).
CHAIN OF HOPE
The pope has called all of us to prayer and penance to move Heaven to intervene and bring peace in this situation. I wish to underline one specific request of the Holy Father, which I feel by and large, may have gone unnoticed.
In his Apostolic Letter, released at the beginning of the Year of the Rosary in October 2002, Pope John Paul states again,
“The grave challenges confronting the world at the start of the new Millennium lead us to think that only an intervention from on high, capable of guiding the hearts of those living in situations of conflict and those governing the destinies of nations, can give reason to hope for a brighter future. The Rosary by its nature is a prayer for peace.” Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 40.)
Furthermore, noting the threat to the family, which is a threat to society, he says,
“At times when Christianity itself seemed under threat, its deliverance was attributed to the power fo this prayer, and Our Lady of the Rosary was acclaimed as the one whose intercession brought salvation.” (Ibid, 39.)
The pope is strongly calling the body of Christ to pick up the Rosary with a new fervor, and in particular, to pray for “peace” and “the family”. It is almost as if he is saying this is our last resort before this bleak future arrives at the doorstep of humanity.
MARY–FEAR
I know there are many objections and concerns regarding the Rosary and Mary herself, not only with our separated brothers and sisters in Christ, but within the Catholic Church as well. I also realize not everyone of you reading this is Catholic. However, the pope’s letter on the Rosary may be the most excellent document I’ve read on explaining simply and profoundly the why’s and what’s surrounding the Rosary. It explains Mary’s role, and the Christocentric nature of the Rosary — that is, that the goal of those little beads is to lead us closer to Jesus. And Jesus, is the Prince of Peace. I have pasted the link to the Holy Father’s letter below. It is not long, and I strongly recommend reading it, even for non-Catholics — it is the best ecumenical bridge to Mary I’ve read.
On a personal note, I have prayed the Rosary since I was a youth. My parents taught it to us, and I have been saying it ever since, on and off throughout my life. But for some strange reason last summer, I felt particularly drawn to this prayer, to pray it daily. Until then I resisted praying it daily. I felt it was a burden, and I didn’t appreciate the guilt some people associated with not praying it daily. Indeed, the Church has never made this prayer an obligation.
But something in my heart moved me to take it up personally, and daily as a family. Since then, I have noticed dramatic things happening within me and in our family life. My spiritual life seems to be deepening; purification seems to be increasing at a faster rate; and more peace, order, and harmony is entering into our lives. I can only attribute this to the special intercession of Mary, our spiritual mom. I have battled for years to overcome character flaws and areas of weakness with little success. All of a sudden these things are being worked out somehow!
And it makes sense. It took Mary and the Holy Spirit to form Jesus in her womb. So too, does Mary and the Holy Spirit form Jesus within my soul. She of course is not God; but Jesus has honored her by giving her this beautiful role of being our spiritual mother. After all, we are the body of Christ, and Mary is not the mother of a bodiless Head, who is Christ!
It is also worth pointing out that most of the Saints had a profound love for Mary, and a deep devotion to her. Being the closest human to Christ by virtue of her motherhood to the Redeemer, it seems she is able to “fastrack” believers to Christ. She is not “the way”, but is able to point The Way clearly to those who walk in her “fiat” and trust in her maternal care.
MARY, SPOUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
I wish to point out one other thing which has struck me these past few months. Pope John Paul has been praying for a “new pentecost” to come upon our world. At the first pentecost, Mary was gathered in the upper room with the apostles praying for the Holy Spirit to come. Two thousand years later, we seem to once again be in the upper room of confusion and fear. However, Pope John Paul is inviting us to join the hand of Mary, and pray again for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
And what happened after the Spirit came two millennium ago? A new evangelization broke out through the Apostles, and Christianity rapidly spread throughout the world. It is no coincidence either, I believe, that Pope John Paul has spoken frequently that he foresees the dawning of a “new springtime” upon the earth, a “new evangelization” as he puts it. Can you see how all this seems to tie together?
I don’t know about you, but I want to be ready for this pouring out of the Spirit, in whatever way it is to occur. And it seems clear to me that Our Lady of the Rosary has a special role to play in this new pentecost.
Perhaps the Holy Father sees the Rosary as the last lifeline to our civilization, to prevent unnecessary suffering. What is clear, is that the pope is praying that we, the Body of Christ, will respond generously to the call to this prayer:
“May this appeal of mine not go unheard!” (Ibid. 43.)
To find the letter on the Rosary, click here: Rosarium Virginis Mariae
