Mary’s unique role 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38 Before the inclusion of Marian feasts in the church’s calendar, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, with its focus on Mary’s unique role in the Christ event, was the liturgy’s expression of devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Pope Francis has a strong devotion to Mary. The day before his installation as bishop of Rome and pope, he visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the great Roman basilica dedicated to Mary, to ask for her protection as he was about to begin his service to all the churches. In a homily on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the pope characterized Mary as a young woman who had to be “out of step” with her culture and the people of her village if she would accept the mission to be the mother of Jesus. What did it mean for Mary to be out of step? Mary knew well the consequences of becoming pregnant while unmarried and carrying a baby that was not that of her intended husband. She would be without economic security. She would be a social outcast, cut off from her family and fellow villagers. Still, she was ready to be out of step, she was ready to risk all. Fortunately, Joseph, who had decided to divorce her when her pregnancy was obvious, had a change of heart. He took her into his home and raised her child as his own. Mary was ready to risk her reputation, economic support and her place within her family and in her village when she answered “Behold, I am the Lord’s servant. May it be done to me according to your word.” From the first moments after his election, Pope Francis showed himself to be out of step with the customs that surround the papacy. It is the practice for the newly elected pope to appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s basilica and offer his blessing to the crowds gathered there. He did appear on the balcony as usual, but he came to ask the people in to pray for him and bless him. Only after receiving the people’s blessing did Pope Francis bless them. The next day Pope Francis went to the Vatican guest house, Domus Sanctae Martae, where he had been staying at during the conclave and personally paid the bill for his lodging. When he visited the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, he decided that he could not live in such luxurious surroundings as the vicar of the poor and humble Christ. The pope decided to stay in the Vatican guesthouse. He still resides there. Pope Francis has chosen not to deck himself out with unique papal dress. He wears the same cassock that any bishop wears, except that it is white. For liturgical ceremonies, he has chosen to wear simple vestments like any parish priest might wear. As he travels through Rome on his pastoral visits, he is driven about in a compact car rather than in a limousine. Pope Francis is a master of the symbolic gesture. What is the pope saying to us by the lifestyle he has adopted? The pope has consciously chosen to live as simply as he always has. He is not interested in luxurious apartments, ornate vestments or fancy cars. The pope is challenging all of us to examine our lifestyle. Can we live more simply so the poor can simply live?
About the Author Father Leslie Hoppe, OFM, is professor emeritus of Old Testament Studies at Catholic Theological Union, 5416 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago.