We bear this treasure in vessels of clay.
Such is the expression that St. Paul uses to describe the human person in the state of grace. The expression could equally be applied to the gift of our Marian consecration. We bear the great treasure of being loving slaves of Mary in vessels of clay, that is to say, in the midst of our human weakness.
As fervent and as constant as we would like to be in our love for and dedication to Jesus in Mary, we still bear the struggle of inconsistency, laziness, distractions, and let-downs.
Thus, following upon yesterday’s feast of St. James, I want to take the opportunity to rejuvenate our trust in Mary. As she came to the aid of St. James’ human weakness, we can be confident that she will also come to ours.
First let me borrow a few words from Fr. Francis Fernandez-Carvajal’s reflection for the Feast Day of St. James,
Tradition recalls the Apostle’s preaching throughout Spain. His great zeal for souls led him to the very limits of known world. We also learn from accounts passed on to us of the difficulties he encountered in the beginnings of his evangelizing, and how Our Lady appeared to him to offer encouragement. (In Conversation with God, Vol. 7, 47-48)
Why would St. James have needed encouragement?
After having traveled great lengths to reach the Roman province of Hispania (nowadays Spain), he found a hardened and stubborn people. They were not open to hearing the Gospel preached to them, no matter what the Good News of Jesus Christ offered them. Tired and somewhat disappointed, James sat by the Ebro River.
Although it may have seemed like January 2nd, 40 AD had turned out to be a failure for James, in God’s Providence it quickly became a day of great graces and prophetic announcements.
The first grace was Mary’s consoling presence. Our Lady, who tradition says, was still living in Ephesus at the time, appeared to the Apostle atop a pillar of stone.
The second grace was Mary’s word of encouragement. She reassured St. James that through her intercession the entire Iberian Peninsula would soon become Christian.
At the same time Mary also gave a prophetic announcement. She said that after their conversion, the Christians of the Iberian Peninsula would become a people of rock-hard faith.
Thus, January 2nd, 40 AD went down in history as the first Marian apparition and the prophetic beginnings of the legacy of Spanish Catholicism.
Just think about it. What would Catholic spirituality be without Spanish men and women like St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. John of the Cross, and St. Teresa of Avila? Or what would the Church on the American continent be without Spanish missionaries to the New World? Still more examples deserve to be mentioned, but due to the focus of today’s post I want to return to my original intention: trust in Mary.
No matter where you are in living out your consecration to Mary—whether you’re just beginning, just hanging on, or full steam ahead—I want to remind you to actively trust in Mary.
Trust her to help you make the right decisions. Trust her to help you overcome sin and setbacks. Trust her to help you meet today’s new challenges. Trust her, because that’s what you promised you would do in being her loving slave.
It is no longer you who live for Jesus, but Mary who lives for Jesus in you. And she does not mind that you carry this treasure in a vessel of clay.
Just trust her! And don’t forget to tell her you do.
Seize the day and make it all Hers!
