Mary in the upper room at Pentecost, Mary: Day 254

Last updated on: March 31, 2016 at 3:30 am by Pete Socks

Mary in the upper room at Pentecost, Mary: Day 254 2016-03-21T11:25:46-05:00 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.

Mary in the upper room at Pentecost

Pope St. John Paul II explains how Mary’s role at Pentecost, and in the life of the Church ever since, is essential.

Among those who devoted themselves to prayer in the upper room, preparing to go “into the whole world” after receiving the Spirit, some had been called by Jesus gradually from the beginning of his mission in Israel. Eleven of them had been made apostles, and to them Jesus had passed on the mission which he himself had received from the Father. . . .

Mary did not directly receive this apostolic mission. . . . But she was in the upper room, where the apostles were preparing to take up this mission with the coming of the Spirit of Truth: She was present with them. In their midst Mary was “devoted to prayer” as the “mother of Jesus” (see Acts 1:13–14), of the crucified and risen Christ. . . . Now, at the first dawn of the Church, at the beginning of the long journey through faith which began at Pentecost in Jerusalem, Mary was with all those who were the seed of the “new Israel.” She was present among them as an exceptional witness to the mystery of Christ. . . .

Mary belongs indissolubly to the mystery of Christ, and she belongs also to the mystery of the Church from the beginning, from the day of the Church’s birth. At the basis of what the Church has been from the beginning, and of what she must continually become from generation to generation, in the midst of all the nations of the earth, we find the one “who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Lk 1:45). It is precisely Mary’s faith which marks the beginning of the new and eternal covenant of God with man in Jesus Christ; this heroic faith of hers “precedes” the apostolic witness of the Church, and ever remains in the Church’s heart, hidden like a special heritage of God’s revelation. —Pope St. John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Jesus didn’t designate his mother as one of his apostles, yet she played a critical role in the life of the Church through her witness to her Son. What role can my witness to him play in the life of my parish and my community?

CLOSING PRAYER

Holy Spirit, you came in tongues of fire upon Mary and the Apostles at Pentecost. Renew my heart, so that it blazes with love for Jesus and zeal for the mission he has given me.

_________________________________________________________________________
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

Paul Thigpen

Saint Benedict Press

Saint Pope John Paul II

Previous Post

March 30, 2016

CBB Review: The Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich

Next Post

March 31, 2016 CBB Giveaway: The Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich Vol. 1

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