Following on yesterday’s celebration of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart fo Jesus, today the Catholic Church celebrates the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The memorial celebrates the integral relationship of Mary “with her Son’s work of salvation: from the Incarnation, to his death and resurrection, to the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy)
Talking about the indispensible role of Mary, Pope Benedict (while he was still Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger) wrote:
without Mary, God’s entrance into history would not achieve its intended purpose. That is, the very thing that matters most in the Creed would be left unrealized – God’s begin a God with us, and not only a God in and for himself.
Although, to use Ratzinger’s words, Mary “must complete the Yes to God’s will that made her a mother by withdrawing into the background and letting Jesus enter upon his mission,” she never goes far and we find her both at the foot of the cross and with the disciples after the death of her Son. Her heart grieved at the suffering and death of her Son.
And as it grieved for his suffering, it grieves for all those who suffer in the world today.
Creo en Dios! 