"We know Jesus because we are brought to him by others. Could we know his Passion, for example, without the great stories of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Without Paul the Apostle, or Moses and the prophets? Without the liturgy of the church, the wisdom and reflection of generations of saints, mystics, preachers, theologians, writers, scholars, artists and poets, as well as multitudes of ordinary Christians?
Yet among all of these one is unique — Mary, his mother. She knew Jesus from birth to death and resurrection and she knew him in a special way, as mother. She wrote nothing down — no words, no recollections are directly attributable to her — but the church does not think of her as a writer of recollections. Rather Mary is a living presence among us, who communicates a holy wisdom. She is a guide to those who walk by faith; an agent of the Holy Spirit, who helps us to know the mysteries of Christ.
She was there when they crucified him. A few simple sentences of the gospel describe her role: “There was standing by the Cross of Jesus, Mary, his mother.” Long before that moment she had learned to walk by faith, to wait, to trust , to believe. Then, as she stood stood there watching her Son die, Mary was tested as never before. And she did not falter.
The mysterious words of Jesus — “Behold your mother” — are meant for us, as well as for the disciple who stood watching with her. When the mystery of the Cross falls on us, Mary has been promised to us. She will be at our side, a brave companion who knows how to stand in the dark time of Calvary and wait for the light."
-by Victor Hoagland, C.P.
