August brings us to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, that we may have recourse to her divine intercession and motherly care. As Catholics, the name of Mary is more than a household name; it is our recourse as sinners. Though this may cause deep consternation to our Protestant brethren, it has both biblical roots and is in keeping with God, “making all things new!” One of the many wonderful things about being Catholic is the continuity—historically, biblically, and relationally.
Firstly, the historicity of the Church is undeniable, to the chagrin of many atheists who would much rather write us off as legend-weavers. The amount of historical artifacts and writings cannot be ignored. Secondly, there is biblical continuity in the patterns of God establishing a structure of authority and a particular kind of worship. Lastly, in relational continuity, we see God move throughout human history not only to restore His relationship with mankind, but also to restore our relationship with one another.
When man said no to God in the garden, he also said no to God's plan for the human family, which fell into immediate disarray. God tells Eve, because you have disobeyed Me, the relationship between man and woman will be disordered. Instead of Eve bringing humankind into Paradise, all pass through her into a world of bitterness. Immediately, you see every relationship fracture. Cue Cain and Abel. A man and wife do not enjoy the exclusivity of marriage but fall into polygamy. In the episode of Sodom and Gomorrah, you see that the larger community treats guests as those to be brutally taken advantage of rather than taken in and cared for. Children are sacrificed on altars to demon gods. Needless to say, it's not looking good.
When God takes a people unto Himself to prepare the world for His Son, He slowly conditions them to God's law—His original plan for the human family. The Israelites continually struggle to maintain this law and fall into the evil customs of their neighbors, which the Lord punishes with exile from the Promised Land.
Finally, history ripens and the new Eve is born. As Eve takes the fruit of knowledge, Mary receives the fruit of God—the Word made flesh. As Eve dominates her spouse to bring her children into death, Mary obeys her husband, the Holy Spirit, to bring life to all mankind. Under the canopy of the tree, Eve’s grasping leads to the murder of her child by her child. Under the outstretched hands of Christ on the wood of the cross, Mary’s “yes” leads to the restoration of brotherhood, as Christ dies that we may have life in Him.
Christ does not let this pass merely in images but makes a point to show that on the cross He is making all things new. Just before He perishes, He turns to John, His beloved apostle, and says, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” Just as all mankind passed through the womb of Eve into punishment, all enter through the heart of Mary into eternal life.
We, as Christians, are Christ's hands and feet. The Faith is brought to us by an unbroken chain of fiats. We are blessed by the brothers and sisters who have carried this gift of faith to us.
A mother gives us milk when we cannot yet eat food, she carries us when we cannot yet walk, she comforts us when the world is too much. Why? That we all might know first in our bodies that we are objects of love. This physical experience of love is God’s first “I love you.” Before the mind can be raised to the awareness of God's goodness, we are meant to have it imprinted on our most vulnerable bodies. We are made for love. Christ has designed our hearts for family, and so He gives us family—not because He is insufficient, but because He is not stingy in His love for us; rather, He is abundant. He desires us to participate in salvation, and thus He has chosen Mary, whom “all generations shall call blessed,” to participate in every man’s salvation as their Heavenly Mother and Queen, who nurses, carries, and hides us in her Immaculate Heart that we may one day, face to face, see the fruit of her womb—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Let us all take refuge in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, whose heart is so intimately nestled in the Sacred Heart of her Son.