Fr. Angelo Mary Geiger offers an in-depth discussion about the reverence which Christians should have for the Holy Mother of God. Father straightens out the confusion about certain rituals and sacramentals. I was always taught that the Paschal candle symbolizes the pillar of fire which led the Israelites through the desert, as in the Exultet. Let holy things be kept holy. Never mind the prudery police. It is better to be thought a prude than stand by while Our Lady is insulted by her own.Father Angelo says:
Our Lady is the Ark of the Covenant. A bit of advice of all Uzzah’s of the world: Don’t touch the Ark (cf. 1 Chronicles 13:10). Leave it behind the veil. God is not likely to strike anyone dead, but some things are too holy to be violated by our paltry eyes and hands. (And no that does not mean I think our eyes and hands are evil, just not worthy to unveil the Blessed Mother.)
....There is nothing wrong with leaving the body under the veil and only revealing it to one’s spouse when the two find themselves within the sanctuary of the nuptial garden. For this no one needs to feel guilty or damaged. It is not a matter of prudery, inspired by the Manichean demon. It is a matter of reverence, inspired by the Queen of Virgins.
I am reminded of how the angel at Fatima asked the children to make reparation for offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When I hear of the irreverent remarks made by some Catholics about Our Lady, I think that reparation is called for, particularly on this her feast.
Share
4 comments:
Reverance in general is lacking in our current culture, as is respect. It is appalling.
And it is even more appalling when such irreverence is encouraged by believers.
I always thought the Paschal candle represented the great candlestick that was in the Temple. Early church fathers taught that the 6 foot tall Temple candle was a kind of prefigurement for Christ.
It does shock me that in the name of being hip, some Catholics who for all their education ought to know better, speak such loathsome, vulgar things about Our Lady.
Yes, it was that, too, Dymphna. Thanks for the reminder. Another great resource is The Liturgical Year by Dom Gueranger who goes into the symbolism of the paschal candle and he bases it all on Scripture and the Fathers.
Post a Comment