4. Mary and the Holy Spirit: the apostolic way

STAGE 3: In Communion with Mary

MARY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE APOSTOLIC WAY

Introductory Prayer: Litany of the Holy Spirit (Just click or tap)

CALL

Aim: To understand the deep union between Mary and the Holy Spirit in the preparation of the Apostles.

Reading

Pentecost (Acts 1:12-14;2:1-4): After the Ascension of Jesus they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. […] When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Comment

For the Son of God to become man, the “shadow” of the Holy Spirit and the “yes” of Mary were both necessary. The same double presence is essential to make it possible for Christ to fashion his apostles. That is precisely what was inaugurated at the first Pentecost.

When the Church – of yesterday and of today – gathers at the Cenacle, Mary is present. How could indeed a birth take place where the mother is absent? How could Christ “be born” again in his Church without Mary? She was also at Cana, when the disciples began to believe in him. She was at the foot of the Cross, when Jesus made her our mother by telling her: “Woman, this is your son!” She could therefore not be absent on the day of Pentecost when Peter and the other apostles, freed from any anxiety, were re-born to their new existence as witnesses to the paschal faith.

Montfort’s words are so true: “When the Holy Spirit finds Mary in souls, he hastened there and enters fully into them. He gives himself generously to them” (TD 36). “He leads them from strength to strength, from grace to grace, from light to light, until at length they attain transformation into Jesus” (TD 119). “He comes down into them with great power, and fills them with his gifts, especially wisdom, by which they will produce wonders of grace” (TD 217).

Indeed, “happy is the person to whom the Holy Spirit reveals the secret of Mary […]. Happy are the people to whom the Holy Spirit gives access to this sealed fountain where they can draw water and drink deep draughts of the living waters of grace” (SM 20).

Personal Reflection and Sharing

God cannot work without the double presence of the Holy Spirit and Mary. How has this cooperation been made manifest in my life of faith?

What “wonders” or fruitfulness has it brought to the people I live with?

[3-4] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER