Fr. Thomas M. Pastorius
October 5, 2014
Spiritual Ponderings
Images of Blessed Virgin Mary

Growing up, I would hear priests from the pulpit and teachers in schools tell me that in order to be a good Christian that I needed to have a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I just did not know what that looked like besides trying to pray the rosary every day. It was not until I entered the seminary did I learn the truth that Mary always points us toward her Son and so the more I prayed through Mary and the more that I studied Mary?s life the closer I grew to Christ and the more I learned about Him.

As human beings, we learn a lot about a person by learning about his or her family especially their parents. Meeting the parents of an individual always adds an extra dimension for good or for bad. Archbishop Fulton Sheen said the following in his book The World?s First Love: Mary, Mother of God - ?When God willed to become Man, He had to decide on the time of His coming, the country in which He would be born, in the city in which He would be raised, the people, the race, the political and economic systems that would surround Him, the language He would speak, and the psychological attitudes with which He would come in contact as the Lord of History and the Savior of the World. All these details would depend entirely on one factor: the woman who would be His Mother. To choose a mother is to choose a social position, a language, a city, an environment, a crisis, and a destiny.?

For the month of October, I would like to reflect with you all on some of the different images of the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout history and across the globe. The first image I would like to look at is called The Virgin of Loreto of La Bahia and is located in Goliad, Texas. For help in our exploration we will be using The Other Faces of Mary: Stories, Devotions, and Pictures of the Holy Virgin Around the World by Ann Ball.

The Presidio La Bahia is the oldest fort in the western United States and is one of the few surviving examples of Spanish Colonial architecture. As the Spaniards explored modern day Texas and California Franciscan Friars would travel with the different groups of explorers bringing with them their devotion to Mary. The particular statue that the Franciscans brought to this mission was an image of Mary under the title of ?Our Lady of Loreto.?

Throughout the history of the little fort/community the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary became known for the special graces that seemed to flow to those who prayed to Jesus through His Mother Mary.

?Our Lady of Loreto lights our journey of faith and shows us how to go and trust. She is the best example we have to believe in God?s will as she did. She gives us the strength and courage for what is sent to us. My devotion to her was a decisive turning point in my life. The turning point has been my inner journey of devotion to Our Lady. She shows me the way to her son and Father. Every rosary bead enables me to find confidence in her without reserve. I now I can strengthened my spiritual life and shown me how to obtain peace from within. I try to visit her often because it reminds me of the comfort and understanding she always offers when we deliver ourselves to her spirit of grace. ? Michelle Rubio. Michelle is an active member of the parish and community history society in Goliad, Texas.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen: ?Before taking unto Himself a human nature, He consulted with the Woman, to ask her if she would give Him a man. The Manhood of Jesus was not stolen from humanity, as Prometheus stole fire from heaven; it was given as a gift.?

WE FLY TO THY PATRONAGE
We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
May the Divine assistance remain always with us! Amen.