News Item: : Our Lady Will Obtain the New Wine of Victory over this Present Crisis
(Category: Torch of The Faith News)
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Sunday 15 January 2017 - 10:31:11

The Traditional Latin Mass for this Second Sunday after Epiphany features the Wedding Feast at Cana, from the 2nd chapter of St. John's Gospel.

This is an especially important Gospel for the present crisis in the Church. This is so because it demonstrates Christ's divinity, shows forth the intercessory power of Our Blessed Lady, and affirms the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. 

Many orthodox Catholics feel themselves to be, so to speak, running out of wine, in the midst of the constant barrage of attacks against the Faith, which is coming from the very physical height and centre of the Church. This is no small matter. And, as we enter upon another year in which it has become clear that those attacks are increasing in magnitude, number and variety, members of the faithful are noticing a deeper sense of weariness in the struggle.

However, let none of us lose heart; today's Gospel has much to teach us for times such as this. And being that it is a Gospel regarding Holy Matrimony, we should pay particular heed.

In the encyclical Redemptoris Mater, we read: ''The description of the Cana event outlines what is actually manifested as a new kind of motherhood according to the spirit and not just according to the flesh, that is to say Mary's solicitude for human beings, her coming to them in the wide variety of their wants and needs. At Cana in Galilee there is shown only one concrete aspect of human need, apparently a small one of little importance (''They have no wine''). But it has a symbolic value: this coming to the aid of human needs means, at the same time, bringing those needs within the radius of Christ's messianic mission and salvific power. Thus there is a mediation: Mary places herself between her Son and mankind in the reality of their wants, needs and sufferings. She puts herself ''in the middle,'' that is to say she acts as a mediatrix not as an outsider, but in her position as mother. She knows that as such she can point out to her Son the needs of mankind, and in fact, she ''has the right'' to do so. Her mediation is thus in the nature of intercession: Mary ''intercedes'' for mankind...

... And that is not all. As a mother she also wishes the messianic power of her Son to be manifested, that salvific power of His which is meant to help man in his misfortunes, to free him from the evil which in various forms and degrees weighs heavily upon his life. Precisely as the prophet Isaiah had foretold about the Messiah in the famous passage which Jesus quoted before His fellow townsfolk in Nazareth: ''To preach good news to the poor... to proclaim release to the captives and recovering the sight of the blind...''(cf. Lk. 4:18).''

Who are the poor, those held captive, those weighed down by evil, or those needing help to see again, in the midst of the present crisis, if not the orthodox Catholics who seek to remain faithful to Our Lord Jesus Christ and His true teachings?

Who are they without wine, if not the members of the Church who have been denied the authentic teachings and the balm of Christ's love; which ought to have been mediated to them through Christ's vicar on earth during these last four years?

At Cana, Our Lady's intercessory power is clearly shown forth. In response to this maternal intercession, Jesus works His first miraculous sign and demonstrates His divinity and power to the Disciples. Notice how Our Lady believed prior to the miracle; and the disciples subsequently believed because of it.

Let us then receive new heart, indeed new wine, by looking to Our Blessed Lady, who already sees what we lack before we ask; and is able to so powerfully intercede for us with her divine Son Jesus. She is Mother of God, Mother of the Church and Mother of each of us in the order of grace.

And we know that, in the end, Her Immaculate Heart will triumph! Our Lord will not leave His Mother's prayers unheeded. Our Lady believes this; let us believe it also.

Keep the Faith!

Our Lady of Victories - Pray for us!   

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This news item is from Torch of The Faith
( http://www.torchofthefaith.com/news.php?extend.1528 )