By Zoe Cannon
Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her" (Luke 1:45).
On June 22, 431, the Council of Ephesus affirmed that Jesus Christ was truly both divine and human. The title Theotokas, which means God Bearer, Mother of God, was honorably given to Mary. For centuries – during times of turmoil, war, persecutions and pandemics – praying to the Blessed Mother as an intercessor to God has spared the world.
We are inspired by the witness of holy men and women who appreciated Mary’s role in the salvation of the world. In the 4th Century, St. John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, composed a Eucharistic Prayer for the Divine Liturgy with Mary that is still used today in Holy Mass. Saint Louis De Montfort wrote “True Devotions” in the 18th century – a spiritual way to Jesus Christ through His Mother, Mary. The apparitions from Lourdes and Fatima affirm the blessing of Mary’s desire to help those who believe. And Padre Pio, a 20th Century saint, claimed the rosary was the greatest weapon against evil. These are just some examples of Mary’s blessing.
The largest Marian Library in the world is housed at the University of Dayton in Ohio. It began in 1943 with a single book gifted from the president of the university, Father John Elbert, S.M. In researching, I found a pamphlet written in 1945 by Dr. Florent E. Franke. His work, “Titles of Our Lady,” received an Imprimatur from Archbishop Joseph Ritter of St Louis, Missouri. A copy was sent and received favorably from the reigning Pontiff at the time, Pope Pius XII. The purpose of the collection, with 555 titles, was to make Mary better known and loved. There are discussions from our brothers and sisters in Christ questioning our devotion to Mary. Scriptural works and documented teachings confirm the importance of the woman who gave birth to the Son of God. Reading about the titles of Mary and the accounts of her life on earth are a great blessing.
The Marian title Our Lady of Good Counsel is celebrated on April 26. The story is told that a 4th century Augustinian church of Santa Maria, 30 miles south of Rome in Genazzano, Italy, fell into disrepair. Over time the efforts for renovation failed due to lack of funds. In 1467, during the celebration of the Feast of St. Mark, the townspeople heard exquisite music. A mysterious cloud descended upon the unfinished church, and a fresco of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child was revealed. It is believed that the image was miraculously transported from a church in Albania when the Turks besieged that area. Many saints and popes have made pilgrimages to this church seeking counsel from Our Lady. In 1939, Venerable Pope Pius XII placed his Pontificate under the maternal care of Our Lady of Good Counsel and composed a prayer to her.
In 2015, there was a problem concerning the boundary lines of our newly purchased property. A priest friend suggested we begin praying to Our Lady of Good Counsel for guidance and protection. I copied the prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel and tacked a laminated image on a large tree bordering the property line. I would often see people drive by and slow down to view the image on the tree. This past month, a terrible storm blew the tree down and narrowly avoided landing on our house. The picture was still attached to the fallen tree.
On May 1, 2020, there was a call to prayer by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, renewing the Consecration of the two nations to Mary, Mother of the Church. Be listening for the sound of exquisite music, and look for a miraculous cloud descending upon our Church – affirming our faithfulness to God. Ave Maria! Amen!