In this month of May, the parochial vicars of the Archdiocese of Seattle gathered at the retreat center for a two day conference. We began with a Mass in honor of Our Blessed Mother to bless a new statue which has now been placed in the sanctuary of the retreat center chapel. The explanation of the commissioning of this statue is included in the homily below.
Mary, Mother of Our Family
As always, we gather today to celebrate our faith in Jesus Christ, to worship the Father who in his great love sent his Son into the world as the sole means of salvation, mercy and peace. In this Easter season we cannot be forgetful of the tremendous role the Holy Spirit plays in the life of the Church since its inception – from the outpouring of water and blood from Christ’s side and the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost.
In close association with our worship of the Triune God, our celebration today also includes a special recognition in honor of the Mother of God as we bless this new image of Our Lady which we shall call Mary, Mother of Our Family.
From the first apostles through the history of the Church Mary has held a supreme place as the Mother of the Redeemer. St. Paul recognized this in his own words: “In the fullness of time, God sent his only Son, born of a woman … to ransom those under the law … that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:4-6)
We know that Mary had an intimate relationship with each person of the Holy Trinity, as the Beloved Daughter of the Father, the Temple of the Holy Spirit and the Mother of the Redeemer.
Thus, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council stated: “Joined to Christ the Head and in the unity of fellowship with all His saints, the faithful must in the first-place reverence the memory “of the glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.” (LG #52)
In our day we are witnessing all kinds of challenges for the human family. With ‘war back in fashion’, (Pope Leo XIV) increase in political polarization, confusion about the true dignity and sanctity of the human person, a rise in violence, transhumanism being further advanced through science and technology, along with so many cultural fascinations with self-gratifying behaviors that diminish human dignity, we need to be reminded of the enduring love of God, the Creator of each person and Father of the human family, in whom our true fulfillment is found.
In a recent document issued by the International Theological Commission, entitled Quo Vadis Humanitas? (What is the Future of Humanity?) reflects on Christian anthropology in the face of today’s many challenges, especially technological advancements. It teaches that human dignity is not self-constructed but given by God. Human life is both a gift received, and a task to be lived freely in relationship. The human person becomes himself or herself within a community and relationships. Human life is an integral vocation oriented to self-gift, love and communion.
Ultimately, the answer to every human ill, broken relationships and the true source of our human identity is Jesus Christ.
Quo Vadis Humanitas also offers a profound Marian theology as a part of what humanity needs today to become fully human, because Mary is the fully human person. Mary is presented as the exemplary realization of authentic humanity and theanswer to distorted anthropologies (e.g., transhumanism)In continuity with Gaudium et Spes and Lumen Gentium, Mary embodies humanity perfected in grace, not technology. She demonstrates that true fulfillment comes through receptivity to God’s gift, not self-engineering.
Mary is our model of a “received identity”. A central theme of the document is that identity is given before it is constructed. Mary receives her vocation (“fiat”). She becomes fully herself through obedient freedom and relational openness. Mary stands as a counter-witness to a self-designed identity (post humanist influence) or an autonomous self-creation.
Since my arrival seven years ago as the next Archbishop of Seattle, I have had a desire to find an appropriate image of Our Lady for this sanctuary. After years of searching and not finding anything fitting, I made the decision to commission this special image from a studio in Oberammergau, Germany.
It includes under the mantle of Mary are images of the many and various cultures represented in our Archdiocese. It is a call for us to recognize that we are all part of God’s family, with Mary as our Mother. It is an invitation to live more fully the unity that Christ came to restore.
Mary, Mother of Our Family, hear our prayer and intercede for us. Help us to live our dignity by recognizing the sanctity of and living in right relationship with each member of the human family. Intercede that we might, in our time, recognize the visitation of God’s grace, and that even now God is doing great things for us. By your intercession may we live with hope as from generation-to-generation God’s mercy is lived in and through us who fear him.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us.
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