“In view of this motherhood, Mary was preserved from original sin, from that fracture in communion with God, with others and with creation, which deeply wounds every human being. But this fracture was healed in advance in the Mother of the One who came to free us from the slavery of sin. The Immaculata was written in God’s design; she is the fruit of God’s love that saves the world.” (Pope Francis)
The “Golden Madonna. “
Such was the name given by the people of Marseilles to the monument erected by Bishop de Mazenod in honour of Mary Immaculate in order to keep fresh in the minds of people the definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception proclaimed by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854.
This definition was a great event in the life of saint Eugene. He felt himself carried away into the joy of heaven as he notes in his diary:
“In that moment, I seemed to see the heavens opening over our heads and showing us totally revealed the joy of the entire Church triumphant… I seemed to see Jesus Christ our Lord congratulating his divine Mother… and Saint Joseph rejoicing at the happiness of his spouse to whom he is so closely united in heaven.” (Quoted in REY II, p. 528)
Bishop de Mazenod was not able to contain his joy when he learned how much the diocese of Marseilles was united to the joy of the whole Church as Bishop Jeancard tells us in his Mélanges historiques: “
On the first anniversary of the definition of the dogma, Bishop de Mazenod’s diary records this:
“We wanted to conserve the memory of this event by laying the cornerstone of a monument which will always bring to the mind of future ages both the declaration of truth in honour of the Mother of God and the piety with which we have responded to the voice from heaven.” (see REY II, p. 555)
The monument was unveiled on December 8, 1857. In his enthusiasm, Bishop de Mazenod wrote personally to Pius IX to tell him how the ceremony took place. He began by describing the monument:
“It is made of Carrara marble; it consists of a Byzantine column of rather large dimensions placed upon a fine pedestal which is equally of marble and which bears on his summit the statue of Mary Immaculate.”
To start things off, there was a procession which took two hours; then the bishop celebrated Mass at the foot of the statue. The people of Marseilles were not satisfied with merely a morning celebration. Bishop de Mazenod continued in his letter to Pius IX:
“In the evening, the whole city was illuminated, even the most humble dwellings were lit up, charity drew the poor into the common joy.”
René Motte OMI in https://www.omiworld.org/lemma/golden-madonna-marseilles/
Once again I find myself struggling to understand the dogma and the concept that Mary and Jesus alone were kept free from “the stain of original sin”. Imagine being born with the stain of sin… There are too many questions without answers. Too many doubts…
So instead I have sat here thinking, struggling, doubting… But at the end of it all I decide to choose life, I choose belief… I do not understand but I desire to walk with… to walk with Mary who I choose to call Maman. And in all of that I have unknowingly also chosen freedom.
As I sat reflecting I thought of last night’s sunset. As the sun began to fall lower in the skies the clouds and the air around them changed colour, sharing different hues and streaks which moved between the clouds and painted their edges. A magnificent vista that could never be fully realised in a mere painting. And as the sun continued to fall it became smaller and lost some of it’s brilliance but none of its life. I watched, without distractions as it became smaller and smaller until it dropped completely behind the hills. And still the magnificent streaks across the skies remained, deepening and then fading as the darkness slowly over came them. And from the horizon there was still brilliance and light reflected against the darkness.
I was amazed at what I experienced and saw before me.
I have decided once again to put aside my doubts and struggles and to continue on my own journey of walking with God and Mary. For I have experienced them both before in my life and want to continue on the journey that my heart and being leads me to choose.
I give into to the desire to walk in faith and to live that fully even though I may not fully understand the dogma the Church has set before me. I will walk with St. Eugene and all my brothers and sisters who make up our Oblate family.