Saturday, October 07, 2006

SCRIPTURE CORNER

QUEEN OF APOSTLES PRAY FOR US

What did the Apostles do? St Paul gives the answer: "...For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord; and ourselves your servants through Jesus." (2Cor 4,5), but Mary was the only one "of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ" (Matt 1,16). Because of this, she is as much above Apostles as deeds are above words. In the Apostles own considerations: "Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God." (1 Cor 4,1), but Mary was Christ's mother who kept Him in her womb for nine months. The Apostle's work was to: "give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.Acts 6,4), but Mary was to the Apostles the best teacher who could give them the best instructions about Mystery of Incarnation, birth and life of Jesus. In the Acts of Apostles we read, that after Our Lord's Ascension all of them: "were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus " (Acts 1, 14). This short passage explains, why the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles with such strength and plenitude of graces. For the Bride of the Holy Ghost was praying with them.
If St Paul assures us: "For we forecast what may be good not only before God but also before men. " (2Cor 8, 21), then the most holy Virgin Mother, full of graces and virtues, was the most radiant example given to them to follow. Then the Most Holy Virgin is truly the Queen of the Apostles. Let us follow her, let us become secular apostles of her guild, serving the Church in every corner of Catholic life, in the parishes, helping those in need, in poverty, helping Catholic publishers and Societies, and professing without hesitation our Catholic faith and values in religious processions and pilgrimages etc. For our Redeemer states clearly: "And I say to you - Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. " (Luke 12, 8).
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