Fr. Thomas M. Pastorius
October 1, 2017
Spiritual Ponderings
Images of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Catholic Church invites us to grow in our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, during the month of October.  I recently discovered some beautiful quotes from St. John Vianney about the Blessed Virgin Mary and so I thought I would share a different one at the beginning of each Spiritual Ponderings.  In addition, I would like to continue to look at the role the Blessed Virgin Mary plays in the life of the universal Church by continuing to explore Ann Ball’s book: The Other Faces of Mary: Stories, Devotions, and Pictures, of the Holy Virgin around the world.  Finally I thought I would conclude each  Spiritual Ponderings with a different and unique prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 
 
St. John Vianney:
“Avarice is an inordinate love of riches and the good things of this life. Jesus Christ, to cure us of it, was born in extreme poverty, deprived of all comforts. He chose a Mother who was poor. He willed to pass as the Son of a humble workman.”
 
Our Lady of La Vang or Our Lady Tra Kieu
Our Lady of La Vang  comes to the Church from the country of Vietnam and probably as an effort of Our Lady to inspire and protect the people of Vietnam while they were under severe persecution.  Ann Ball points out that one thing that separates the apparition of Our Lady of La Vang from other Marian apparitions is that Mary does not convey a message of repentance but only one of comfort.    Ann Ball writes: “She appears as a powerful harbinger of mercy, a protective mother full of love for her suffering children.” 
 
When I think of Ann Ball’s description of this image of Mary, it reminds me that sometimes the most important thing we can give others is our presence.  The Blessed Virgin Mary could have given the people a lot of advice at how to better follow her Son but it seems that she has discerned that the people of Vietnam needed a loving mother filled with mercy more than a teacher.  Sometime people come into our lives who simply need someone to listen to them and pay attention to them so that they can know that they are still important to someone.
 
Years after the apparition there was a small Catholic community of Tra Kieu found itself surrounded my  military group called the “Can Vuong. “  The Can Vuong planned to wipe out the small Catholic village.  The Catholics gathered around Jean Bruyere.  He and his Vietnamese congregation placed the image of Our Lady of La Vang on the altar at Church and began to pray for her for protection.  The small little Catholic compound survived despite the fact that the Can Vuong had them outnumbered and had better weapons.  The Can Vuong for example were unable to hit the Church with their cannons.  (Later a Can Vuong soldier declared that he had seen an image of “a lady in white” above the Church protecting it).  The Can Vuong also tried to use elephants in their attack against the village but the people were able to keep them with the use of torches.  In honor of the victory the people build a new church and dedicated to Our Lady Help of Christians. 
 
When you find yourself in trouble do not forget to trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary.  She is a powerful protector and advocate.
 
PRAYER TO MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS
Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin, Help of the Christians,  we place ourselves under your motherly protection. Throughout the Church's history you have helped Christians in times of trial, temptation and danger. Time and time again, you have proven to be the Refuge of sinners, the Hope of the hopeless, the Consoler of the afflicted, and the Comforter of the Dying. We promise to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, your Son, to proclaim His Good News of God's love for all people, and to work for peace and justice in our world. With faith in your intercession, we pray for the Church, for our family and friends, for the poor and abandoned, and all the dying. Grant, O Mary, Help of Christians,
the graces of which we stand in need. (State your intention(s) here.) May we serve Jesus with fidelity and love until death. Help us and our loved ones to attain the boundless joy of being forever with our Father in heaven. Amen.  Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!