MARY THE SPOTLESS BRIDE

Merciful Father, as you have sent the Holy Spirit on Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, to write all that You wished and wanted, we pray You, send the same Holy Spirit on us, so that we may understand, appreciate Your Word, and make it our plan of life. This we ask for the merits of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

52 … Israel in Sinai: The Spotless Bride: We find in Exodus, that Moses, spoke as a mediator to the people of Israel, whilst gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai. He told them about the Divine Plan, that the Lord had in mind to draw up and seal as a ‘Pact’, a ‘Testament’, a ‘Contract’ with the people of Israel, thereby they would become His people, the ‘Chosen People of God’(Ex.19,5-6).

When they heard with their own ears the words, the details of this Contract, Testament, they declared in one voice: “Whatever the Lord tells us, we shall do.” (Ex.19,8)

This “YES” meant the Seal, the Promise, the Betrothal between the People of Israel and God, through the Pact, which God had drawn for them.
The whole people, the nation, was then the “spotless Bride”, in front of whom, the Bridegroom would cry out with joy: “You are all beautiful, my beloved, in whom no stain is found.” (Song of Songs 4,7)

Now, the Church puts in the mouth of Mary the self same words which were uttered by Israel, at the base of the mountain. In other words, as God had purified, cleansed, made spotless the Israelites, His chosen people, so that they could give, their consent and cry out “YES” for this Bridal Testament, under the Sinai, likewise God looked down with favour upon Her, who was to be His Mother, left Her spotless, so that Her “YES”, Her ‘Fiat’, at the moment of Her Annunciation, would be free and full of joy.

Deep, yet wonderful thoughts about a whole nation in the making and a girl, a fifteen-year old maiden, a mother in the making, whilst drawing a parallel between the Chosen People and Mary, the Chosen Bride. How blessed are those who read and stop to think, to meditate on a verse, a word from the Holy Book. What wealth, we have inherited from our forefathers, from the Church, from God, our Father.

The Renewal of Sion – Jerusalem: Jerusalem represents the Community of the Chosen People. Jerusalem is the beloved Bride of Jahweh, the Bridegroom. The Lord had in mind, wanted, wished to make of Israel His beloved, spotless Bride (Song of S. 4,7). She became forever His, in justice and mercy (Hosea 2, 19-20). This love had grown deeper, as Isaiah described it:
“ …as the Groom gets engaged to a maiden, so will your Creator get engaged to you; and just as the Groom finds joy with his Bride, so thus God find joy in you.” (Is.62, 5)

Now, Mary represents, personifies Sion – Jerusalem of Old. The great renewal promised to the Holy City, has been accomplished in the Virgin Mary. She is seen exaltd on high, on the horizon of History as the dawn of the rising Sun of Justice. /53



Certain Information taken, with kind permission, from the book “Who is Mary” by H.G.Mons. Sylvester Magro ofm, Bishop of Benghazi. A very dear friend.