Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, Foundation of the Society of Mary, October 12, 1817 and today, October 12, 2006

Scripture: Acts 1:12-14. Psalm 26:1,3,4,5. Luke 11:27-28:

On the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar in 1797, the Founder of the Marianist Family had an inspiration similar to a vision. He had just arrived in Saragossa in time for Vespers and was praying at the foot of the statue of Our Lady of the Pillar. This led him to see and envision the Society of Mary as a possibility. His prayer would eventually be fulfilled in 1817 on the second of October. Several times during his lifetime, Blessed Chaminade came back to this original grace and expressed it in his conferences to the Marianists. He said, "As I see you now before me, so I saw you in spirit at Saragossa, long before the foundation of the Society. It was Mary who conceived the plan of the Society; she laid its foundation and she will see to its continued existence." How true, as we Marianists and students and members of the Marianist Family gather today to celebrate this Feast dedicated to Our Lady. Chaminade's words are treasured by us and I like to think he saw all of us gathered in the name of Mary to continue her Son's mission here and throughout the world. I personally like to think that Blessed Chaminade saw me in that grace of vision he experienced on the eve of this Feast in Saragossa, Spain.

Mary is involved in beginnings and all beginnings have a purpose. Just as the mystery of Jesus among us began with her consent at the Annunciation that the Angel Gabriel brought to her, so, too in the upper room, she is present at the beginning of the age of the Holy Spirit who descends upon her and the apostles. The Church is born while she was at prayer with those gathered on Mount Zion. Paul VI would announce that Mary is the spiritual mother of the Church at the end of Vatican II. He was confirming what was said of her in the last chapter of the Constitution on the Church. He yes at Nazareth was confirmed by her yes at Jerusalem. She, the Daughter of Zion, engendered the messianic people of God just as she had given birth to the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Luke confirms that Mary meets all the criteria of a disciple of Jesus by what is being said of her today in the Gospel and what he says throughout his Gospel in those texts which mention Mary. He gives Mary a voice at the Annunciation and has her singing her Magnificat in her meeting with Elizabeth her cousin. Mary is the woman of promise, the disciple of the Lord, the Blessed One, and the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. As her spiritual motherhood is celebrated in Spain through this Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, so, too, we Marianists join with her in the mission of bringing Christ into the world.

"Loving God, we thank you for the gift of the Marianist Family who carry on the mission of your Son in the world today. It is through the inspiration you gave to the Founder Blessed William Joseph Chaminade at the shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar that we recall the special grace of the foundation of the Society of Mary. May Mary, the mother of your Son and our Lord, be with us as we join in thanking you and praising you for our Marianist vocation as lay people and religious; as brothers, sisters, and priests. Amen.