-Sr. Gretchen Trautmman, FMI
What is the Pope doing on December 8, at 11 a.m.?
He’s taking flowers to a Lady, a very special Lady, just like the popes who preceded him have done, every year on December 8, since 1857.
If you’ve been too Rome, you’ve probably seen the Spanish Stairs, in the Piazza di Spagna. Climbing these stairs, you arrive to the top, where a statue graces the landscape, somewhat overshadowing the architecture of the Church Trinita dei Monti behind it. Raised high on a slender column is the statue of the Immaculate Mary, dedicated in 1857, to commemorate the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, declared by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854. It is here that popes have visited year after year on December 8 to lay a wreath of flowers at the base of the column, to pay homage to this very special Lady.
When Pope Pius IX proclaimed as dogma that Mary was conceived without original sin, he was expressing how Mary was prepared for her special role in history, ready to become Mother of God. From the first moment of her existence, she was full-of-grace, all-pure, all-holy—immaculate.
Last year, December 8, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI said in his address: "Our Lady teaches us to open up to God’s action and to look at others as he does, starting with the heart, to look upon them with mercy, love, infinite tenderness, especially those who are lonely, scorned or exploited."
Fr. Chaminade, founder of the Marianists, also regarded Mary as a very special woman. His attitudee towards the Immaculate Mary was evident in how he named his works. When beginnning his faith-sharing groups, he named them the Sodalities oof the Immaculate Conception, dedicating them to Mary.
Perhaps you will pass a statue of Mary today, or her picture. You may not have a wreath of flowers to lay at her feet in homage as does PPope Benedict XVI, but there is something you can offer. It may be a simple "nod of acquaintance" to acknowledge the gift she is to the Church, to humankind. Or it may be a whispered prayer, a "Hail Mary." But remember her, as does the Pope today, for her giftedness and grace.
May the Father, and the Soon, and the Holy Spirit, be glorified in all places through thhe Immaculate Virgin Mary!