Q U I C K S C A N

Why does Mary have a special place in Catholic theology?
Why does Mary have a special title?
What do recent films say about Mary?

Readers reflect on Friar Jack’s musings

by Friar Jim Van Vurst, O.F.M.

Why does Mary have a special place in Catholic theology?

Mary is indeed a very special person for us Catholics. Episcopalian and Lutheran Christians also hold her in high esteem for her special role in salvation history. It is impossible to think of our faith, both in doctrine and practice, without thinking of the mother of Jesus—the Mother of God. Right here, it might be good to explain what we mean, because calling “Mary the Mother” of God sounds outrageous to many other Christians. After all, if God is the eternal, giver of life, and Mary is created and born in time, how in the world can Mary be given the title of Mother of God? The answer: because God became flesh in Jesus Christ (Jn 1:14).

Why does Mary have a special title?

From all eternity, the Trinity existed—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Of course, we did not know this until Jesus revealed it to us, especially in the Gospel of John. In the Trinity, the Son is referred to as the Word of God (1:1ff). And as John told us, “The Word became flesh.” Now that is truly a mystery. We simply cannot comprehend how an infinite, almighty God could become a tiny infant, grow into manhood and even suffer death as all of us do. But Jesus is not really a human being in the same sense that we are. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is a divine person (God) who has both a divine nature and a human nature.

This mystery we refer to is the Incarnation. When Mary conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit at the Annunciation, it was she who gave (as every mother does) the very flesh and blood, the human nature to this Word becoming flesh within her. When Mary gave birth to Jesus, she was indeed the mother of Jesus. However, because Jesus was the Son of God, the Word of God made flesh, she is also rightly called the Mother of God. But her motherhood is not over the eternal triune God who existed from eternity, but rather the Word of God who entered human history in the person of Jesus Christ.

What do recent films say about Mary?

Because of that fact, mystery though it may be, Mary has always had a preeminent place in our Catholic faith and practice. Two recent Hollywood films, which many of you may have seen, depict the importance of Mary in the whole history of salvation. In fact, in God’s plan, Mary was an absolutely essential person—without her that plan would not have taken place.

The recent Christmas film, The Nativity Story, gave the biblical account of the conception and birth of Jesus. When it was shown at the Vatican, the audience stood and applauded the film as it came to an end. Mary was depicted as an ordinary young girl who became enveloped in a mystery far too great for her to comprehend. But her commitment to the Lord in the midst of all the difficulties that her pregnancy brought—to Joseph, her betrothed, her confused parents and critical and suspicious townspeople—only enhanced her role as an essential person in the whole mystery of God becoming flesh.

Released in 2004, The Passion of the Christ was filled with the presence of Mary as she watched and followed Jesus all through his passion and death. There is that poignant scene when Jesus is chained in the basement of the palace of the High Priest and Jesus’ mother is upstairs with Mary Magdalene and John. They see Mary search and move through the rooms until finally she kneels and puts her head to the floor and the camera drops beneath the floor to show Jesus right beneath her. It’s as if she is mysteriously drawn to him even though she cannot see him. It was a powerful scene. 

All through the passion, Mary’s place is emphasized again and again until at the end when the crucified Jesus is placed in her arms and, in a most powerful scene, holding Jesus, she looks out at the audience with a questioning look on her face and seems to ask all of us, “Why would you do this to my son?”

As Catholics, our 2000-year tradition has always held Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to be our mother also, the Mother of the Church. John quotes Jesus saying, “Son (John) receive your mother” (19:26ff). How fortunate we are to have the mother of Jesus for our own mother as well.

Friar Jack’s Inbox

Readers respond to Friar Jack’s musings on “St. Anthony and the Tree of Life.”

Dear Friar Jack: I am a Secular Franciscan, and St. Anthony is one of my favorite saints. In fact, I’ve chosen him as my patron saint because of his deep faith and because he is the finder of lost items. Sometimes all of us feel a “little lost” spiritually. His life is a great example of true faith and humility as depicted in the sculptures you’ve shown as well as the walnut tree hut. I didn’t know about the hut before, so I am most grateful to you for sharing the story with us. Perhaps God will give me the chance to see his tomb one day. As for now, I know that God has called me to live my life as St. Francis and St. Anthony did, truly committed to live the gospel at all times. Nancy

Dear Friar Jack: Thank you for always bringing us something which piques our interest, challenges us and continually draws us closer to the Lord. Wasn’t St. Anthony’s goal originally set to bring Christ to the Muslims? Isn’t there something in Muslim tradition about a man and a tree, a nut tree? I was thinking of the story of Jesus calling Zacchaeus down from the tree and telling him that he would be dining with him that night. It gives new meaning to “He’s up a tree”! Just as an aside: Thank you for including the photos. How about those of us who cannot be pilgrims with Friar Jack keep this group in our prayers and lift them up to St. Anthony as their special patron? Not that we expect you to have accommodations in a tree! Dorothy

Dear Nancy and Dorothy: Thanks for the inspiring e-mails that you (and others) so kindly sent. One of the other respondents (Trevor) wanted to know more about “St. Anthony’s first biographer” and the first life of St. Anthony of Padua ever written. Because I know something about the book, I briefly describe it here: The First Life (Vita Prima) of St. Anthony was written in Latin in 1232, less than one year after Anthony’s death. The book apparently had no English translation until 1984. The First Life is also known as the Assidua (because assidua happened to be the first Latin word of the book). It was published in 1232, within one year of Anthony’s death, which occurred on June 13, 1231.

A Franciscan friar, who chose to remain anonymous, wrote this short book at the request of his superiors for the occasion of St. Anthony’s canonization (in 1232). Since it was written so soon after Anthony’s death and by a confrere who obviously knew the saint, the book is considered a reliable resource for Anthony’s life and times.

Having read the book more than once, I consider it a highly important resource for a solid understanding of Anthony’s life. The problem is that the book is not widely available in the USA. It is published by the Conventual Franciscan Friars in Padua, Italy, who also publish the monthly magazine known (in English) as the Messenger of Saint Anthony. If you live in North America and want to order a copy of this First Life of St. Anthony in English, write to Anthonian Association, 101 St. Anthony Drive, Mount St. Francis, IN 47146, and request a copy of the Life of St. Anthony (Assidua). The e-mail address is aafsap@aol.com. The price of the 95-page book is $8 (USA), including postage. Make checks out to the Anthonian Association or use Visa or MasterCard.

Mount St. Francis, located in the scenic hills of Southern Indiana across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, includes a residence of Conventual Franciscan Friars, a retreat center, hermitages, a bookstore and wooded grounds. I hope this information is helpful for all of you devotees of St. Anthony. Peace always! Friar Jack

Send your feedback to friarjack@americancatholic.org.

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