Fr. James Brent, O.P., discusses the spiritual maternity of Mary, highlighting her role as a spiritual mother and how individuals can benefit from her nurturing, teaching, and protective care in their spiritual lives.
Mary's spiritual maternity encompasses all believers, extending beyond her role as Christ's mother.
Entrusting oneself to Mary involves forming a personal relationship, seeking her maternal care and guidance.
Deep dives
Understanding Mary's Spiritual Maternity
Mary's spiritual maternity is centered on the concept that her actions are a reflection of her being, primarily defined by her role as the Mother of God. All her maternal works stem from this fundamental attribute, accompanied by other attributes such as being the virgin most prudent. She carries out maternal works not only with respect to Christ but also extends this maternal role to all individuals.
Mary's Universal Motherhood
Mary's spiritual maternity extends beyond Christ to encompass all as she is considered the mother of not only the head (Christ) but also the members (all believers). This concept was solidified when Christ proclaimed from the cross, 'Woman behold your son,' indicating her role as the mother of all. While her motherhood to Christ was physical, her motherhood to believers is spiritual, operating through grace and intercession for their well-being.
Growth of Grace in Mary's Spiritual Maternity
Mary's spiritual journey involves a continuous growth in grace, starting with the fullness of grace she received at her conception. This grace, meant to grow in her soul, did so through prayer, meritorious works of love, and participation in the sacraments. Her sinlessness allowed grace to develop unhindered, enabling her to carry out significant maternal works with a heightened level of grace.
Entrustment to Mary: A Response to Spiritual Maternity
A key response to Mary's spiritual maternity is entrusting oneself to her. This filial entrustment, proposed by John Paul II, signifies welcoming Mary into one's life, seeking her maternal care and guidance in all aspects. It emphasizes the importance of forming a personal relationship with Mary, whereby believers abandon their anxieties and concerns to her nurturing and protective spiritual presence.
This lecture was given on December 8th, 2024, at an Intellectual Retreat at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
About the speaker:
Fr. James Dominic Brent is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Chaplain to Commuter Students at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington DC. He has articles in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy on Natural Theology, in the Oxford Handbook of Thomas Aquinas on “God’s Knowledge and Will”, and an article forthcoming on “Thomas Aquinas” in the Oxford Handbook of the Epistemology of Theology.
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