Holy Mary, Mary: Day 135

Last updated on: December 3, 2015 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Holy Mary, Mary: Day 135 2015-11-22T11:41:56-05:00 Pete Socks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Holy Mary

Blessed John Henry Newman examines the fundamental meaning of holiness in order to understand the title “Holy Mary.”

By holiness we mean the absence of whatever sullies, dims, and degrades a rational nature; all that is most opposite and contrary to sin and guilt. In his mercy, God has communicated in various measures his great attributes to his rational creatures, and first of all, as being most necessary, holiness. Thus Adam, from the time of his creation, was gifted, over and above his nature as man, with the grace of God, to unite him to God, and to make him holy. Grace is therefore called holy grace; being holy, it is the connecting principle between God and man. Adam in paradise might have had knowledge, and skill, and many virtues; but these gifts did not unite him to his Creator. It was holiness that united him.

When man fell and lost this holy grace, he had various gifts still adhering to him. He might be, in a certain measure, true, merciful, loving, and just; but these virtues did not unite him to God. What he needed was holiness; therefore the first act of God’s goodness to us in the Gospel is to take us out of our unholy state by means of the Sacrament of Baptism, and by the grace then given us to reopen the communications, so long closed, between the soul and heaven.
We see then the force of Our Lady’s title, when we call her “Holy Mary.” When God would prepare a human mother for his Son, this was why he began by giving her an immaculate conception. He began, not by giving her the gift of love, or truthfulness, or gentleness, or devotion, though according to the occa- sion she had them all. But he began his great work before she was born; before she could think, speak, or act, by making her holy, and thereby, while on earth, a citizen of heaven. Nothing of the deformity of sin was ever hers. —Blessed John Henry Newman, Meditations and Devotions

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
My baptism, as Blessed John affirms, brought me into a state of holiness, of reconciliation and thus reconnection with God. But my sins can once again diminish and damage that connection. Am I making frequent use of the sacrament of Recon- ciliation as a remedy? Do I ask Mary to help me make a good Confession?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of St. Athanasius: Give ear to our prayers, O most holy Virgin, and be mindful of us. Distribute to us the gifts of your riches, and the abundance of the graces with which you are filled.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Paul Thigpen and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.

A Year with Mary

Blessed John Henry Newman

Paul Thigpen

Saint Benedict Press

Previous Post

December 2, 2015

CBB Review - Sacred Reading

Next Post

December 3, 2015 CBB Giveaway - Sacred Reading

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Year with Mary A Year with the Angels A Year with the Church Fathers Book News Children's Review Featured CD Giveaway Guest Post Interview Linked Review Media review Movie Review New Releases Off the Shelf Review speakers Teen Review The Clergy Speaks The Laity Speaks The Open Book Podcast Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz