Mary’s Real Spiritual Motherhood and Role in Redemption – Dec 09 – Homily – Fr Matthias

 

Fr. Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Dec 09, 2025, where he explores the profound spiritual motherhood of Our Lady of Guadalupe, emphasizing her consoling words to St. Juan Diego and her real role in acquiring and transmitting graces for our salvation through papal teachings.

On the memorial of St. Juan Diego, Father highlights the most consoling words from Our Lady of Guadalupe to her "youngest and dearest son," urging him not to fear because she is his mother, offering shelter and protection in the hollow of her mantle. He affirms that we need nothing more, as God gives all good things through her, citing Wisdom 7:11 applied by the Church to Our Lady. Father draws on St. John XXIII, who teaches that seeking the Immaculate Virgin's patronage opens the treasures of divine redemption for abundant life, as the Lord wills everything through Mary. Our Lady's spiritual motherhood is real, rooted in her direct cooperation in redemption. She acquires and transmits graces, acting as Mediatrix—not merely affectively, but effectively contributing to our spiritual birth and growth in grace. St. John Paul II explains that Mary's motherhood surpasses feelings; through her merits and intercession, she merits grace with Christ during the redemptive sacrifice and mediates it to us, in inseparable collaboration like a father and mother in conception. This universal motherhood, proclaimed by Christ at Calvary, continues from heaven; as St. Paul VI states, it is an integral part of salvation's mystery to be held by faith. Father stresses its importance: recognizing Mary's maternal role brings all graces, including Jesus Himself, consoling us as it did St. Juan Diego, leading all to Christ. The Church emphasizes this reality, urging us to win her powerful patronage for fruitful spiritual life.

Book of Wisdom 7:11 - God gives good things through Mary - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/7?11
CCC 969 - Mary's maternal intercession role - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/969.htm
CCC 971 - Invocation of Mary as mother - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/971.htm
CCC 2679 - Mary mediates divine graces - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2679.htm
Redemptoris Mater - John Paul II on Mary - https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater.html
Marialis Cultus - Paul VI on devotion - https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus.html
St. Juan Diego - Franciscan Media bio - https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-juan-diego
Mary as Mediatrix - Catholic Answers tract - https://www.catholic.com/tract/mary-mediatrix

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Juan Diego - Opt Mem
Readings: Tuesday in the 2nd Week in Advent - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120925.cfm
1st: isa 40:1-11
Resp: psa 96:1-3, 10-13
Gsp: mat 18:12-14

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1353&r=1280

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