From the Religious Education Coordinator's Desk
Mary MacKillop is not only the first Australian to be recognised by the Church as a Saint, she is truly a very Australian saint. She characterises the spirit of the Australian mythology. She was a prodigious hard worker who put the needs of others before herself. She exhibited something of the larrikin spirit: constantly in dispute with authority but pressing on, regardless. She used the strengths of others but also didn’t tolerate those who were not genuine. Her commitment to the schooling of children from poor and rural communities established a model of Catholic education that continues to today. A Saint for and of Australia!
And so we pray ...
Ever generous God,
You inspired St Mary MacKillop to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and constant in bringing hope and encouragement to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.
With confidence in your generous providence and through the intercession of St Mary MacKillop, we ask that you grant our request to keep the families of St Brigid’s community safe, healthy and happy during this difficult time.
We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so that we too, like Mary MacKillop may live with courage, trust and openness.
We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord,
Amen
THE ASSUMPTION of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15), is a very old feast of the Church, celebrated universally by the sixth century. It commemorates the death of Mary and her bodily assumption into Heaven, before her body could begin to decay--a foretaste of our own bodily resurrection at the end of time. Mary's assumption into heaven is the most important of all Marian feasts, a holy day of obligation.
And so we pray…
Father in heaven,
All creation rightly gives you praise, for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom she who bore the Christ in her womb was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
REFLECTIONS
|
Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 8 August 2021  |
God’s Saving Justice The Gospel reading for today is, at first glance, an odd choice to pair with the feast of St Mary of the Cross. Mary MacKillop faced more than a few financial challenges, after all, especially in her youth. The burden of supporting her poor family fell to Mary in her teenage years, and surely no one held it against her for worrying about money, food, or clothing. But the pairing of saint and Gospel makes sense in the context of Mary’s vocation. Rather than worrying about herself, she cared for others. In this, Mary MacKillop lived the Gospel very effectively. First caring for her immediate family, then for wider relations, soon enough Mary was focused on meeting the many needs of the communities in which she and her fellow Sisters of St Joseph lived. Through aid, education, and example Mary offered her contemporaries and us an example of faith through works. From quietly and unobtrusively teaching in a stable in 1866, to founding a religious order that spread throughout and beyond a continent, Mary’s spiritual journey was truly focused on “God’s saving justice”. Tending to Australia’s Aboriginal peoples, prisoners facing execution, children requiring education, the homeless, the orphaned, the sick, indeed anybody she saw in need, Mary shows us how God seeks to answer the day’s troubles: through us. © Nick Brodie |
|
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 15 August 2021  |
In the Western church this feast celebrates the assumption of Mary into heaven; in the East it commemorates her dormition or her falling asleep. The readings invite us to reflect on the role that she plays in the mystery of our redemption. Whatever we honour in Mary in some way points to her son. Over the centuries devotion to Mary has been expressed in forms taken from the culture out of which it developed. Sometimes she is pictured as a humble peasant girl. At other times she is depicted as a queen robed in gold of Ophir who rules from heaven. Probably the most familiar pose is that of a mother with her child. Perhaps the most dramatic of these themes is that of the celestial woman from the vision found in the Book of Revelation. It is because of the cosmic significance of Jesus that this tradition has been applied to Mary. Though the first reading depicts a cosmic woman, the Gospel reading characterises Mary as a simple peasant woman intent on offering service to another. However, the words that are placed in her mouth are words of prophetic challenge. She announces the great reversals of God’s good news. The greatness of Mary is a reflection of the greatness of the Son of God whom she bore. He was the first fruits of salvation. He was the victor who won the kingdom. Her part in this victory was to bring him to birth and into maturity. © Dianne Bergant CSA |