My dear parishioners,
Peace! On the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, 7 October, 2019, Pope Francis established the feast of Our Lady of Loreto, to be observed each year on the 10th of December. At the same time Pope Francis proclaimed a Lauretan Jubilee Holy Year to run from 8 December, 2019 through 10 December, 2020. There are fifty-one invocations in the Litany of Loreto. The following is a reflection on the twentieth invocation: Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
What does it mean to call Saint Mary “Virgin most powerful”? What sort of power does the Mother of God have? There are different sorts of power: physical, nuclear, financial, political, spiritual, moral, among others. Saint Mary the Blessed Virgin is not a body builder. She may not bench press 220 lbs. Our Lady is not a nuclear scientist or nuclear weapons specialist (i.e. Army 55G; Navy MT-AEF; Air Force 2W2X1; Marines 5711). The Immaculate Virgin Mary does not have a 401K or investment account(s). Saint Mary was never elected to public office as a mayor, governor, prime minister. While muscularity, military might, financial prowess, or political savvy need not necessarily be disordered or sinful, there is a “Higher Power.”
Saint Mary is most powerful because of God’s grace at work within her. Our Lady is most powerful spiritually.
Part of Saint Mary’s spiritual power comes from her moral example. The power of her witness, never consenting to sin or Satan or the glamour of evil is second to none. None of the vices (pride, greed, envy, wrath, sloth, gluttony, lust) were present or active in Our Lady. All of the virtues (humility, generosity, brotherly love, patience, diligence, temperance, chastity, Justice, Prudence, Fortitude) were and are present and active in Our Lady, thanks to God’s grace at work within her and her cooperation with God’s grace.
Another aspect of Saint Mary’s spiritual power comes from her being an intercessor with her Son. During the wedding at Cana, Saint Mary interceded for the needy couple who had run out of wine (cf. John 2:1-11). In accepting to become the Mother of God (Luke 1:26-38) and in helping Saint Elizabeth in her need (Luke 1:39-56) Saint Mary shows her most powerful intercession. How many countless miracles have been worked through the most powerful intercession of Our Lady at Lourdes (since 1858), at Fatima (since 1917), at Guadalupe (since 1531), or through the Miraculous Medal (since 1832)?
Saint Mary is the Virgin Most Powerful as Mother and Queen. As Mother of God, Saint Mary enjoyed the prerogatives afforded by the fourth Commandment: Honor your father and your mother (cf. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:33). Just obedience and help are obligations children owe their parents, in this case the Lord Jesus to Our Lady. The Lord Jesus Christ has a duty to help and obey His Blessed Mother. As Queen of the Universe, Heaven and Earth, as Queen of Angels and Saints, Saint Mary is the Virgin Most powerful.
Father John Arthur Orr