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 twenty-third invocation: Mirror of justice, pray for us.
What does is mean to say that Saint Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mother of God is “Mirror of justice”? Inspired by the Holy Spirit Saint Paul (1 Corinthians 13:12) writes how we now see dimly, as in a mirror, but this was before his glorious martyrdom. Saint Mary always and clearly reflects the justice of God. Justice is a Cardinal Virtue, giving each their due. God has His due and so do each one of us. When we honor Our Lady she receives her due. As Daughter Zion (cf. Lamentations 2:13; Isaiah 37:22; 2 Kings19:21), Saint Mary had long known the justice of God proclaimed Sabbath after Sabbath (cf. Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 5:16; Psalm 50:6; 72:1). Although her Son was unjustly condemned (cf Isaiah 53:8) He will return in glory to judge justly the living and the dead (cf. Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5).
Further, Saint Paul writes (2 Corinthians 3:18) that with unveiled faces we will behold the glory of the Lord as in a mirror. Saint Mary, the Blessed Virgin, who has been assumed into Heaven actually now beholds the glory of God face to face. In the mystery of the Nativity and throughout the Lord’s earthly life she also beheld the glory of the Lord in her Son. Saint Mary was not like the man described in Sacred Scripture who looks in a mirror and immediately forgets what he saw (cf. James 1:23). Our Lady knew and knows who she is, daughter of God, Mother of God and of the Church.
In olden times mirrors were but brightly polished metals like bronze (cf. Job 37:18) or copper or silver or even stone. We use mirrors in our homes when brushing our teeth or combing our hair. We use mirrors in driving automobiles to help us in knowing our surroundings. Cameras and telescopes also use mirrors to enhance vision and imagery. Carnivals and Fun Houses use convex and concave mirrors to distort our image large or small. To call Our Lady Mirror of justice is not because she was vain, far from it! Before the Lord she was and is very presentable. Our Lady was and is aware of her surroundings and where she was going. Saint Mary clearly saw the plan of God for her and mirrored His expectations of her. Saint Mary by the holiness of her life, corresponding to God’s grace at work within her truly reflects the image of God in which we are made.
Father John Arthur Orr