“You Visit My Mother. . . I Remember Your Name”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
August 14 – 15, 2021
Gospel: Luke 11:27-28
Where I’m from up north, I lived in a diverse community with very strong ethnic ties and associations. There was this gentleman who approached a priest and said, “Hey Father, you visit my mother – I remember your name.” Okay…I’d love to. What son, as hated as this gentleman allegedly was, doesn’t want to honor his mother. There’s no shame in honoring one’s mother. That’s true for us even with all our sins. What about our good Lord? He was the only child in history who actually created His mother. Throughout the centuries, for thousands of years, the Church has always called for devotion to the Blessed Mother – not for worship or adoration – that belongs only to God Himself – but for devotion. It’s not just a pious tradition for old women sitting in their living-rooms knitting, it’s for the whole Church. Over the past 50 years or so, Devotion to the Blessed Mother has really fallen to the wayside which is sad, because people really don’t know their faith or scripture. Non-Catholics say, “I study scripture and I pray scripturally.” Well, if you studied scripture and prayed scripturally, you would be Catholic. When you honor the Blessed Mother, you are praying scripturally.
You’ve heard the proclamation of the Holy Gospel of Saint Luke. Where did Luke get his gospel? He wasn’t one of the apostles. At the Annunciation, Mary was alone when the angel came to her. Luke wasn’t there. He wasn’t at Elizabeth’s house when Mary visited her. So, where did he get all of this information? Did Luke channel his inner Miss Cleo the psychic? The first part of the Gospel of Luke is known as the Gospel of Mary, because she told him everything that’s in it. So, Mary’s words are scriptural. All of those people who have gotten biblical, theological, or philosophy degrees and who are not Catholic, should sue their professors for theological and intellectual malpractice. You wasted your money. Because if you made it this far in the scriptures, then you must be Catholic, and you must honor the Blessed Mother.
What did Mary say further into the Magnificat? “All generations will call me blessed.” So, it’s a scriptural command to honor the mother of Jesus. It has been 70 years since the so-called Second Vatican Council and some decided that devotion to the Blessed Mother was not scriptural. Really? Devotion is decreasing and along with it purity and belief in the Real Presence. In order to understand Jesus, you have to understand Mary. In theological studies, Mariology (the study of Mary) is a subset of Christology (the study of Christ). It was from the Blessed Mother that He took His human nature. If you look throughout scripture, I’m not going to give you a whole class on Mariology today – it’s a semester-long study – but just look at the highlights. Protestants say they don’t have to rely on the saints. Really? Where is that in scripture? Who interceded for us before the first miracle recorded in scripture? The Blessed Mother at the wedding in Cana. During the Passion, our Lord looked at His mother and said, “Woman, behold your son.” He then looked at John and said, “Behold your mother.” Protestants also say, “In order to be saved, you must be washed in the blood.” Who was standing beneath the cross getting spattered with His blood? The Blessed Mother. The blood did not stop. . .the Romans were very good at what they did. When they took her Son down from the cross, He was placed in her lap. She was covered in His blood. Was she not bathed in the blood? Walk in the blood? After the Resurrection, Mary was in the Upper Room with the apostles when the Holy Spirit came. This was the second time that the Holy Spirit came to her. Remember the Annunciation? The angel said, “Hail full of grace.” Nobody else in scripture has been called that. The power of the Holy Spirit came and overshadowed her. “Oh, you have to be born again in the Holy Spirit.” Well, Mary did it twice.
This is why we have devotion to the Blessed Mother. Just like our own mothers who have died, and hopefully in Heaven, intercede for us to the Holy Father. How much more so can the mother of Christ intercede for us. The original woman, the old Eve, took us all out of paradise to the new Eve who leads us to paradise. Our Blessed Mother is the new Eve.
Not too long ago, I received a call to go visit woman who was in her last days. So, I went into the house and gave her the Last Rites. She said, “Father, I have a Rosary.” Oh, that’s great! It was beautiful set of beads. I said to her, “Hold them in your hands, and as often as you can say the Rosary so that when the time comes when you are to leave this world, our Blessed Mother will come take you by the hand and lead you to her Son.”
How will you apply this message to your life? Remain devoted to the Blessed Mother and ask for her intercession with her Son.
You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to https://annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com/ and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” and then “Sermon Notes.” From a cell phone, click on “Blog” then “Menu” and then “Categories” (located at the end of page). There is also a search box if you are looking for a specific topic.