Maureen, Marist Way, England, tracks for us her changed understanding of Mary’s place and role in her life.
Our Lady was very much part of my life as I grew up – in fact she was like a member of the family who lived abroad so we didn’t see her but who kept in touch. Momentous events like exams necessitated the reciting of a rosary novena which took 54 consecutive days – the consecutive part was essential. Family matters and problems were discussed with Our Lady as though she were actually present – I think she probably was. Every evening we said the rosary to keep in touch, a bit like a pre Microsoft email.
This was all pre Vatican II. With the advent of Vatican II and all it entailed I rather lost touch with Our Lady; 'Rosary, Sermon and Benediction’ disappeared from our church as did other Marian devotions. The devotional accretions of the years were stripped away and we were left with a streamlined no nonsense Church – at least that was how it seemed - and we were also left in a kind of ‘Maryless desert’.
Many years later I went to teach in a Marist school – and discovered people for whom Mary is their inspiration. But this was a rather different Mary; not so much a Mary in pretty blue and white who could be relied on to listen to 54 day novenas but a Mary of sterner stuff. This was a Mary who put before you a challenge based on the Gospel values of her Son; a Mary who invited you to listen, judge and act as she did; a Mary who said look beyond your own immediate family to others in more need; a Mary who said it's a tough world but together we can make a difference and a Mary who said I’m still here with the old supporting hand – in fact a ‘Marist Way Mary’. I still love the Mary of my childhood but the Marist Way presents a Mary much more in keeping with my age and the age in which I live. I’m glad we’ve found each other again! |
