Leon J. Suprenant Jr - Catholic for a Reason II: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mother of God

Of Mary one can never speak enough. This saying was often quoted in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s in this country, a time when there was much Marian literature, both theological and devotional. The reason for making this point during these decades was not at all an apologetic one, as if one were answering those who might have been questioning the plethora of Marian literature, but rather to encourage many others to write about Our Lady and her role in our salvation.

In the 70s, 80s, and the early 90s, however, with a few exceptions, this phraseof Mary one can never speak enoughtended to be quoted in an apologetic sense, the Marian author feeling the need to explain that we give our filial attention to Mary, of course, only insofar as she leads us to Christ, her Son.

Most of us have noticed that the past few years have brought a resurgence in Marian interest and devotionhearkening back to the unquestioning love for Mary characteristic of the pre-conciliar years, but at the same time drawing upon the glorious teaching of Vatican II on Mary found in Lumen Gentium. For examples one need only look at the Marian Congresses being held around the country, the Rosary rallies, or the revitalized and newly active World Apostolate of Fatima. The list could go on and on.

This recent resurgence in Marian spirituality is cogently illustrated by the appearance of the book you have in your hands. For this outstanding treatise, we rejoice with a joy reflective of the Magnificat of Our Blessed Lady!

These few words of mine, then, serve as prologue to the wealth awaiting you in this book. I can think of no more fitting way to conclude these introductory comments than with some lines in praise of Mary found in The Canterbury Tales. These lines from the prologue to The Prioress Tale ask Marys blessing and enlightenment, in retrospect, for the authors whose treatises grace the following pages:

O mother-maid! O maiden-mother free!

O bush unburned, burning in Moses sight,

That down didst draw, with thine humility,

The spirit of God within thee to alight,

Out of whose virtue, when His will made bright

Thine heart, the Fathers wisdom came to birth

Now help my tale to honor thee on earth!

Lady, thy goodness and thy shining glory,

Thy virtue and thy great humility,

No learned tongue can ever put in story,

For sometimes, lady, ere we pray to thee,

Thou hast foreseen, in thy benignity,

And by thine intercession gettst us light

That to thy dear Son guides our feet aright.

O blessed queen, so feeble is my wit

To utter thy surpassing worthiness,

I cannot well sustain the weight of it,

But like a child twelve months of age or less,

That scarce a word or two can well express,

So am I now; therefore I pray of you,

Guide well my song that I shall say of you.

Mary has heard our prayer; it is she who gives this book to you.

MOST REV. JAMES S. SULLIVAN
Bishop of Fargo