Oct 02 2007
Why Mary?
To begin exploring some of the points raised in the combox of my recent post, Two Paths, I would like to start with the question of, “Why Mary?” What does it really mean for us that Mary is Mediatrix? Why is it necessary?
Father Steven Scheier, in conversation with Mother Angelica, can tell us why. Forty-two very sobering minutes of conversation, in which Father Scheier describes how he lived for many years as a priest in a less-than-edifying manner, until he had an accident, a near-death experience, and an intervention by Our Blessed Mother.
I know forty-two minutes is a long time, but Father Scheier was facing eternity. We know, as did he, that Divine Mercy is very real, but he found out that Divine Justice is also. I hope you will be able to find time to Watch the Video. If it doesn’t open here for any reason, you can find it on the website of Father Tommy Lane, S.S.L., S.T.D., Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
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I’d forgotten these words of the interview. Totally. Today, I see her, defer to her, and will run to her as Mother. If I fall by the wayside again, pick me up, and carry me to her, ‘k?
Those words really struck me as well, Carol. Also, Mary’s request to Jesus: “But if we give him special graces, Son…”
If we turn to Mary, she will give us the graces required to love her and imitate her, so the “natural” struggle we may have felt is removed. She will do the carrying herself, like every Mom who carries wounded or tired children.
So, I have to choose who will break me, and why. Or not. But only a fool of a disciple would cling to invulnerability.
Hard to admit that one is as spiritually helpless as a child — even harder for the private to let anyone see that.
But that’s the admission that Jesus, through Mary, needs to hear, that He and I know I’m no longer tying His hands.
Indeed, Ann, that analogy in the first few minutes by Mother Angelica is HUGE food for thought. Still, I couldn’t help thinking just then of the Poor Souls. Oh, God help them, as well as us all.
I recognize the seriousness of Father’s self-centerdness and his shortcomings as a priest according to his own witness. But I fail to see the evidence of his having committed a sin which would be considered “mortal” and deserving an eternity in hell.
This is a real sore point with me. I just have a very, very difficult time reconciling a scenario that has the monsters responsible for the deaths of millions, those who openly despise God and a priest that wasn’t quite living up to the full standards of his chosen ministry and vocation all occupying the same horrific state of the eternal absence of God and unspeakable suffering.
I read of scenarios where Jesus has stayed the hand of the Father and prevented the “wrath of God” from being loosed on the world. I have read the same about the Blessed Mother interceding so that Jesus does not unleash his holy fury on a perverted world. “wrath,” “fury” and “vengeance” are such emotional designations and seem to me wholly inconsistent with the merciful and loving God that I have come to know and long for.
Perhaps these descriptions of the inclinations of the Deity are meant to place the offenses of man in terms with which we humans can identify. But sometimes these descriptions of the Father and the Son conjure images of hot heads like Bobby Knight and Sonny Corleone, characters that have a boiling point and can’t control themselves and have to be restrained from doing something rash.
I love Mother Angelica, appreciate Father Steve, honor Mary and adore our Lord and Savior. But I know that the Divine Mercy of Jesus is infinite and the BVM intercedes constantly on our behalf. I truly trust that the mercy and justice of God infinitely surpasses that of mere men and that he “considers not what we truly deserve.”
But re Fr. Scheier, I think he didn’t go into complete detail about what his own sins entailed, but rather just made us aware of some of the ways he wasn’t living the spiritual life as he should have been. And there is no mention of fury or wrath in his case; he simply heard Jesus speaking Truth, and there was no arguing when faced with Truth. We know from Scripture that “to whom much is given, much will be demanded”; Father Scheier was given much, but never responded. We also know from Scripture that Jesus wants us either hot or cold, and what does He say He will do with the lukewarm? Vomit them out. We can’t possibly comprehend the full extent of His Divine Mercy, but many of us reflect on it a great deal. I have a feeling not so many of us reflect on Divine Justice though, in terms of ourselves, in terms of what we’ve been given and what fruit has been born of it. It’s very easy to compare ourselves to mass-murderers and feel better about ourselves, but I think it may be just this kind of thinking that could lead us into a false sense of relaxation and into an acceptance of a lukewarm spiritual life.
As usual, I’m doing my stream-of-consciousness thing which means that one statement leads to another concept which leads to another question which leads to another opinion which results in “wrath” and “fury” entering the discussion uninvited. I get hung up on the criteria for damnation which Father Scheier brought into the picture with his witness.
I understand and agree with everything that you remind us of above. Lukewarmness is something that I’m all too familiar with. Perhaps that’s why I am counting on the Lord to skew more towards mercy than justice.
I’m away until Monday evening now – but just to say, I’m counting on the same thing as you…
http://www.cdowk.org/parishes/parish_page.jsp?id=12
He wasn’t listed with the Intercessor of the Lamb on their websites…they had names/pictures of the hermits and he wasn’t there. I bookmarked his visit on EWTN and tried to followup on his whereabouts years ago.I know these things can’t be given approval by the church, but I found it inspiring at the time. Something though bothered me and I wondered why he wasn’t seen anywhere else or given more press. I don’t think they ever had the show on reruns either or heard Mother mention him again later on. I had to call to ask about a link to the old show and got Tommy Lanes.
Any news from anyone else?
This church is very small, only one 9am Sunday mass. Must be a small town or not many Catholics.
I worried that he fell ill, or left or was having other problems. That is what happens when all the news you read is bad (especially for the church)
Who knows the truth in what happened to Fr. Shreier, but I think he needed whatever he received. I don’t think it’s a heirarchy in heaven, “Im boss, you’re nothing” when it comes to Jesus and his family….I think whatever is to happen to us, happens, but what we need to have that happen differs each person. (on a personal note, I hope she’ll put in a word for me too!!)
I agree too about the news, I try to find uplifiting things and send them to friends…we need a little balance.
Deb, that was lovely, what you told Fr. Groechel, and so true. I had a parish priest once who I often thought the same thing about; I can just imagine the joy and surprise when he sees everyone he had a hand in saving.
I was privileged to be at EWTN with a pilgirmage group the night that Father told his story to Mother Angelica. Everyone in that studio just sat in stunned silence when the program ended.
I will never forget his testimony. Everyone should hear it.
God bless
Carol, the way I interpret Joseph’s comment, particularly the last line where he says that the Lord cannot say “no” to His Mother, is in the sense of Mary being the Queen Mother; last year I heard some homilies and read some material about Mary being the Geberah (not sure I spelled that correctly), which relates back to the Old Testament (eg, Bathsheba being the Queen Mother of King Soloman), and how everyone who wanted something from the King went through his mother, asking her first, and asking her intercession with her son, the King.
But, like you, I’ve come across many people in real life and online who do have this idea of the “big bad God”. Many times I find it is because they can’t seem to comprehend the fact that the darkness, the violence, the pain in today’s society has been brought on us by humanity, not God. Also, I don’t think they understand Divine Justice – that it is not vengeful, that it is simply, as we stand before God, the Truth of ourselves, and that we will see all that we have done that is good or bad, and all that we failed to do, and we will see for ourselves the Justice that applies to our lives.