Mary's Memories: The Rosary

John Paul II presents Mary as a model of contemplation (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 10 and 11). She is, according to the pope, an incomparable model of meditation because she “loved with her eyes fixed on Christ.” He goes so far as to say that Christ’s face, a face radiant as the sun (Mt. 17:2), belongs to Mary, she being his mother not only physically, but also psychologically. No wonder that memories of Jesus were (are) forever “impressed upon her heart,” and the pope to conclude: “In a way, these memories were to be the ‘rosary’ which she recited uninterruptedly throughout her earthly life” (RV, 11).

Memories and meditation are a sign of spiritual closeness. When looking at Mary, our model of contemplation, we detect a method of meditation which we could apply with profit to our own spiritual life. There are eight steps or facets in this method of contemplating Christ. Here they are (V12,10):

1- The eyes of the heart are turned to Jesus already as the Annunciation. The eyes of the heart highlight our dispositions of affection, adhesion and commitment to Christ.

2 - Mary senses his (Jesus’) presence in her womb. This is a very physical experience as only future mothers can have, but it highlights the fact that meditation involves the whole person, heart, mind, and senses.

3 - At Bethlehem, Mary gazes tenderly on the face of her son. It is a gaze of wonder and adoration. Here, meditation becomes visual, triggering the two fundamental attitudes we need to have in our relationship with God: one of wonder and fascination which draws us close to him; the other of awe, reminding us of God’s grandeur and glory, and leading us to adoration.

4 - At times, Mary would look to Jesus with a questioning look as in the Temple episode (Lk 2:48). Faith, a life of faith, means walking in darkness, the darkness being our lack of understanding, hardship and evil. Our questioning is an important part of faith, and so an integral part of any method of meditation.

5 - Mary’s gaze was always a penetrating gaze, one “capable of deeply understanding Jesus” as was the case at Cana (Jn 2:5). It is important to always seek to penetrate God’s words and deeds. A superficial knowledge of the word of God may lead to unilateral interpretations, some purely moralistic, others merely subjective. A deeper understanding of God’s will is not possible without patient discernment as Mary practiced at Cana.

6 - At times, Mary’s look would be one of sorrows, especially beneath the cross. “Sorrows” is an expression of compassion. Com-passion means to share one’s passion, to resonate in-depth with somebody. It is important to reproduce in our heart the sentiments of Jesus, in particular, the participation in his suffering and death which are a sign of unconditional love for us. Meditation should bring us to a truly existential understanding of Jesus Christ’s unconditional love for us.

7 - But there is in the end Mary’s gaze of radiant joy on Resurrection. Meditation of Jesus should always end in joy. The ultimate meaning of Christ’s face, “radiant as the sun,” is the promise of eternal life for each one of us. We are in his likeness and image, and so we are children of light radiating in our whole being the joy of Easter.

8 - Finally, there is Mary’s gaze afire with the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14). Meditation is never limited only to passive receptiveness. What we have received we should also share. Here is the meaning of “fire with the Spirit.” The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost was the beginning of the Church and its effort of evangelization. Contemplation leads to action.

All of these facets or steps somehow relate to events in Mary’s life. In turn, these events found a place in the rosary, making it Mary’s memories. Thus, the rightful understanding of the rosary is no less than a pressing invitation to celebrate and ponder Mary’s memories of Christ in assiduous meditation.