PARAÑAQUE City, Jan. 2, 2015—A parish priest restated what the Church has always affirmed, that Mary is the “Mother of God,” reminding his congregation to strive to adopt the virtues that have made Our Lady the model of Christian faith.
In his homily on Thursday where he zoomed in on the important role the Blessed Virgin’s Divine Motherhood played in salvation history, Fr. Rolando R. Agustín, rector of the Parañaque diocese’s St. Andrew Cathedral Parish, presented Mama Mary as the perfect Christian.
Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God on Jan. 1. (Photo: Natalie Hazel Quimlat)
“Simplicity, humility, responsiveness to God’s Word—these are traits that make Mama Mary worthy of emulation,” the priest shared.
“People who live simple lives find it easier to get closer to God, while those who are humble are more responsive to what God wills for them,” he added.
Because of her uniqueness, Agustín calls on the faithful to reject the view most non-Catholic Christians have of Mary: that her participation in the Gospel was limited only to giving birth to the Savior.
“It’s as if they [non-Catholic Christians] consider Mary only as a means God had used to effect His plan, leaving her afterwards when He had no more use of her. That’s unacceptable to Catholics, who regard the Blessed Virgin as spiritual mother of the Church, of all people of faith,” he explained.
According to him, the respect Catholics accord to Mary can be traced to the Bible, when Jesus Himself entrusted His mother to the apostle John, who represented all of Christ’s followers.
John 19:27 reads: “Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCP News)
