The videos in the Carmelite Spirituality Series, offered to provide spiritual nourishment during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, allow us to reflect on the Catholic-Christian faith from the perspective of our Order's rich tradition.
Carmelites have a particular devotion to Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and we take her as our Order's Patron. Since the Order's origins in the Middle Ages, Carmelites have promoted the doctrine of Mary's "Immaculate Conception", that is, the belief that she was preserved from the effects of original sin in a unique way, so as to be able to be the Mother of Jesus.
This reflection is given by Fr. Kevin Alban, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Carmelite Friars in the British Province. Father Kevin is a Marian scholar and medievalist, and trustee of the Centre for Marian Studies.
Father Kevin begins his reflection not directly on Mary, but on the Christian vocation to be "holy and blameless" before God (as we read in the Letter to the Ephesians).
Mary is a model and example of one who is holy, blameless, and chosen by God, as all Christians aspire to be.
Mary is our "Sister in the Faith" whose immaculate nature is a sign to us that in the whole of creation there is a corner that is not touched by sin.
The word for sin in Hebrew has the meaning of "missing the mark", and implies not being aligned with God's will. Mary was perfectly tuned to God's will, which in her case was to give flesh to Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus too, of course, was perfectly aligned to his Father's will.
Mary's holiness - her being attuned to God's will - has an effect beyond her own life, impacting on all humanity. She is the model of the ideal disciple of Jesus, perfectly available to do the will of God. Mary shows us the way to behave in our relationship with God and with the community. Holiness is not simply some person quality that we keep for ourself, but has a result, a consequence, for the benefit of all.
The reflection ends with a beautiful "Ave Maria" hymn - "Beautiful Lady" performed by the Maltfriscan Community - illustrated with scenes from Aylesford Carmelite Priory in Kent, and images of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
6 дек 2020
