John Paul II – “At the Cross, with Mary” (Good Friday Letter, 1988): the priesthood and spiritual motherhood of Mary

The Thursday of the Week of Holy Week 1988 Letter from Pope Saint John Paul II to the Priests, titled “Apud crucem cum Maria” (Along the Cross with Mary), is one of the deepest reflections from the Magisterium on the relationship between the ministerial priesthood and Mary’s spiritual motherhood. Published on March 25, 1988 (the Feast of the Annunciation) during the Marian Year (1987-1988). Text in Enchiridion Vaticanum vol. 11, paragraphs 255-282.

Latin Text, n. 264 (Mary, Theotokos of the Church)

Beata autem Virgo divinae maternitatis dono et munere, quo cum Filio redemptore unitur, … etiam cum ecclesia intime coniungitur, praedicat concilium pergitque «Deipara est ecclesiae typus, ut iam docebat s. Ambrosius, in ordine scilicet fidei, caritatis et perfectae cum Christo unionis. In mysterio enim ecclesiae, quae et ipsa iure mater vocatur et virgo, beata virgo Maria praecessit, eminenter et singulariter tum virginis tum matris exemplar praebens».

Portuguese Translation, n. 264

«A bem-aventurada Virgem, pelo dom e dever da divina maternidade, que a une com o Filho redentor, … é também intimamente unida com a Igreja», proclama o Concílio. «A Mãe de Deus é figura da Igreja, como já ensinava Santo Ambrósio, na ordem ou seja da fé, da caridade e da perfeita união com Cristo. Pois no mistério da Igreja, que também é justamente chamada mãe e virgem, a bem-aventurada Virgem Maria precedeu, apresentando-se de modo eminente e singular como exemplar tanto de virgem quanto de mãe».

n. 265: «Apud crucem in calvariae loco»

Latin: Apud crucem in Calvariae loco Mariam «accepit… discipulus in sua» sibi nequeam a Christo demonstratam verbis iis: «Ecce mater tua». Concilium autem docet magisterium quantopere ecclesia universa Mariam «in sua» susceperit, quam penitus etiam huius matris virginis mysterium ad ecclesiae pertineat mysterium intimamque eius veritatem.

English:Along the cross on Calvary Hill, “the disciple received Mary into his home,” as Christ indicated with the words: “Behold your Mother.” The teaching of the Council shows how the whole Church has received Mary “into her home.” How deeply the mystery of this virgin Mother belongs to the mystery of the Church, to its intimate reality.The priesthood and spiritual motherhood of Mary, no. 280The Council proclaims that Mary, advancing on the pilgrimage of faith, by her perfect union with the Son until the cross, precedes the way, presenting herself eminently and uniquely to all the people of God who follow the same path, following Christ in the Holy Spirit. Should we not, as priests, pastors of the Church, unite ourselves sublimely with her, since we must lead the communities entrusted to us by the way that from the Pentecost Cenacle follows Christ through all human history?The Magnificat and the priesthood, no. 281Celebrating the Eucharist in so many altars scattered around the world, let us offer thanks to the eternal Priest for the gift he conferred on us in the sacrament of the priesthood. And in this act of thanksgiving, let the same voices be heard as the evangelist places in Mary’s mouth while visiting her cousin Elizabeth: “He has done great things for me, the One who is mighty, and his name is holy” (Lk 1:49).Pastoral MeaningThe Letter of Thursday of Holy Week 1988 is the densest synthesis of three themes:– Ministerial priesthood, as continuation of the Last Supper – Spiritual motherhood of Mary, as received by the beloved disciple at the foot of the cross – The Queenly Mother of God, as expressed in the Liturgical YearMarian Year 1987-1988, integrating the two preceding themesThe text is a model of Orthodox reading of Lumen Gentium Chapter VIII for the priestly life, a prelude to what will be Pastores Dabo Vobis (1992).HeritageThe Letter inaugurates a tradition that continues until Francis: every Holy Thursday, the Pope addresses a letter to priests worldwide, often with a Marian theme. John Paul II was more consistent, writing a Holy Thursday letter in each of his 26 years of pontificate (1979-2005).Complementary ReadingRedemptoris Mater | Pastores Dabo Vobis | Marian Year 1987-1988 | Salvifici Doloris | Lumen Gentium

Catholic theology (mariology, angelology, demonology, josephology)

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