Teaching of John Paul II and Father Joseph Kentenich
Danielle M. Peters
This paper was presented during the Twenty-second International Marian and Mariological Congress in Lourdes from September 4-8, 2008. The topic of the congress was: The apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in history, faith and theology.
. . . MagnificatAnthropological Implications for a Pedagogy of Holiness in the
In reciting the Magnificat, Mary expresses optimistic realism in God’s power, mercy and faithfulness. With her song Our Lady teaches us an eloquent lesson of a harmonious human-divine relationship. Father Kentenich observed that with the exception of one fragment in which Our Lady speaks of herself (cf. Lk 1:48b), “all other parts of the Magnificat … circle around the eternal God, around His way of government.”[82] What are the implications concerning a healthy human-divine relationship accentuated in and through Our Lady’s Song?
Schoenstatt’s founder pointed to today’s danger of anthromorphism. By that he referred to a person’s lack of esteem and appreciation of God’s greatness and power.[83] Mary answers to this danger by acknowledging her smallness before Almighty God. The opposite approach to God is typical for our age as well. When God is acknowledged as the totally Other and Transcendental, we fail to see the divine-human analogies.[84]
Finally, Father Kentenich observed a certain tendency of depersonalizing God.[85] This occurs when the biblical-personal God becomes an abstract idea and when love for God is replaced by merely following rules; in other words, when love for the lawgiver is replaced by love for the law.
Mary’s Magnificat highlights her personal relationship to God who is mighty, holy, merciful and capable of performing great deeds. Looking at the Immaculata, we have a presentiment of God’s holiness. Love for Him has made her the sacred space where God abides. By approaching her we find God whose name is unending, overflowing love, mercy and goodness.[86]
As object lesson, Our Lady can be likened to a book which leads heavenwards. Father Kentenich encouraged his spiritual family to frequently page in this book in order to gaze at our model whose reflection we may and should become. With her and like her our entire life should become an unending sursum corda. . . .
(by Father Joseph Kentenich)
Teaching of John Paul II and Father Joseph Kentenich
Danielle M. Peters
http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/immaculate1.html
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