Mary Mother of Mercy

Holy Doors of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome

On January 1, 2016, the feast of Mary Mother of God, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. In his homily, Pope Francis referred to Mary as the Mother of Mercy.

"It is most fitting that on this day we invoke the Blessed Virgin Mary above all as Mother of mercy. The door we have opened is, in fact, a Door of Mercy. Those who cross its threshold are called to enter into the merciful love of the Father with complete trust and freedom from fear; they can leave this Basilica knowing – truly knowing – that Mary is ever at their side." 

When we think of mercy, two considerations are before us, the state of the heart of the one who has been offended, the state of the heart of the one who is guilty of the offence. Who could imagine the grief that overwhelmed Mary's heart as she held her son taken down from the cross. The prophesy of Simeon is fulfilled, "... a sword of sorrow will pierce your heart too." Two hearts pierced, Jesus and Mary.

But from the cross and the heart of Jesus, we hear these words, "... Father forgive them ..." As the life-blood of Jesus flows out of his heart, these words flow with them, and flow strait into the heart of Mary, making her the first of the instruments the Father chooses to carry these words into the world.

As Mary was the "Theotocos", the womb that held and gave birth to God, she is now the "Eleostocos" the heart that gave birth to Mercy.

When we suffer a grave injustice, our spirit is wounded, a lance pierces our heart, draining from it the capacity to love. Bitterness, resentment, retaliation floods in. Will we be able to love again? Can we forgive?

At the foot of the Cross, Mary sees her Son offer himself totally, showing us what it means to love as God loves. At that moment she heard Jesus utter words which probably reflected what he had learned from her as a child: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:24). 

At that moment, Mary became for all of us the Mother of forgiveness. Following Jesus’ example and by his grace, she herself could forgive those who killed her innocent Son.

Why forgiveness? There is no other choice. Nothing else will heal our hearts, nothing else can restore unity and peace. When repentance meets forgiveness, there is new life. It is God's remedy for sin, and so it must be ours as well.

Mary is the Mother of God, she is the Mother of God who forgives, who bestows forgiveness, and so we can rightly call her Mother of forgiveness. Continue reading Pope Francis homily .... link.