I remember feeling sad when I heard some people who were uncomfortable with this feast. Some didn’t understand it, confusing it with the conception or the birth of Jesus. Some seemed to not like its focus on Mary or that she shouldn’t be thought to be “special” in any way. Still others didn’t know what it meant for us and didn’t know how to celebrate it.
I think it helps to remember that the feast celebrates God’s care in becoming Incarnate, in becoming one of us. The Incarnation (literally, the enfleshment of God) was carefully planned by the Three Personed God. The Trinity, in deciding to save Creation from the power of sin and death, decided to send the second Person of the Trinity to be born, live and die among us, surrendering to the Father. For this to happen in a human way, God needed the cooperaton.of a woman who would conceive and give birth to our Savior - a woman who was so “full of grace” that she could form him in freedom and full availability to God’s will. This woman needed to be full of grace from the moment of her own conception. We would later be able to understand that, at the time she was conceived in the womb, Mary was given the gift of the redemption her Son would bring to us all.
This means at least three powerful things to me.
Mary is so easy to turn to, to be with, talk to, listen to. Mary has a free heart - a heart that is completely centered on her Son.
Mary can help each of us to grow, mature and to understand our mission from God. She can be our mother and guide in helping us lead a life that is more capable of surrendering ourselves in following Jesus.
Under the title of the Immaculate Conception, Mary is the patron the United States of America, as well as many other countries (with Cathedrals under her name in countries around the world). It seems really important to turn to Mary and beg her help for our countries. May we be able to focus on our mission to care for the common good. May we be better at not forgetting the people on the margins. May we protect the dignity of every human life, as a precious child of God, giving every human person what he or she needs for a full life enabled to practice their faith with justice and the protections justice demands. Unified around those commitments, may we seek peace together for our world and for its children in the future.
Holy Mary, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Rev. Andy Alexander, SJ
I was born and raised in Omaha, 8 blocks from where I now work. My parents were very involved in the Jesuit parish here and were outstanding examples of a commitment to service for my sister and me as we were growing up. I entered the Jesuits in 1966, and was ordained in 1979.
I love giving the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius, in any adaptation. One of my greatest privileges was to serve as pastor at Gesu Parish in Milwaukee for 8 years before coming here. The community there taught me about church, and the relationship between the worship which says who we are and the ministry to which it sends us.
One of the privileges of being back in Omaha was helping my mother care for my father, the last four and a half years of his life. Both of my parents have died and are enjoying the embrace of the Lord which they taught me about all of their lives.
When I write these reflections, I try to imagine the people who will be reading them. I try to imagine what ways I might be in solidarity with people struggling in any way. Then I read the readings. Then I ask, “what is the good news that we need to hear?” Something usually just comes, to me.
It is tremendously consoling to receive mail from people around the world, simply expressing gratitude for a reflection. Most of the time, it is enough to know, from the numbers, that people are finding this site to be a helpful spiritual support.
