By Dr Jeanette Pinto –
God is the author of the gift of life, and the Universal Church has consistently held this pro-life stance. Life has to be promoted, protected, defended, respected and accompanied with dignity from the beginning till its natural end. And the in-betweens are not exempt. Mary is a singular witness to the Gospel of Life and so rightly can we say that Mary is God’s champion pro-lifer.
Mariology is the theological study of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and has always proved to be an attractive subject to Catholic writers. In the context of Roman Catholic history, Mariology traces the theological developments and views regarding Mary from the early Church to the 20th century. It may be broadly defined as the study of devotion to and thinking about Mary throughout the history of Christianity. It aims to connect scripture, tradition and the teachings of the Church on Mary. Mary has been an object of veneration in Christianity since the Apostolic Age. Apocryphal writings tell of her subsequent death and bodily assumption into heaven. The Bible depicts Mary as a woman of perfect faith and ‘blessed among all women’.
The Rosary is a Marian prayer that depicts the Biblical life of Jesus and Mary. Saint John Paul II calls the Rosary a “compendium of the Gospel message” in his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, published October 16, 2002. The 5 Mysteries of Light or the Luminous Mysteries were added to the traditional Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries with the publication of this Apostolic Letter. He also states that “Mary constantly sets before the faithful the mysteries of her Son, with the desire that the contemplation of those mysteries will release all their saving power. In the recitation of the Rosary, the Christian community enters into contact with the memories and the contemplative gaze of Mary.”
The word Rosary means “Crown of Roses.” The Rose is the queen of flowers, and so the Rosary is the rose of all Devotions and is therefore the most important one. With the Rosary we meditate the mysteries of joy, of sorrow of light, and the glory of Jesus and Mary. The Holy Rosary is considered a perfect prayer because within it we realise the awesome story of our salvation. Our Lady always grants our request. She joins her prayers to ours and presents it to Jesus who can never say no to whatever His Mother asks for.
Mary is the first model of a pro-lifer. She was constantly life – giving in her attitude and approach to her life situations. At the Annunciation, Mary was told by the Angel Gabriel that she “had found favour with God’. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” Luke (1:31). Although confused, Mary freely accepted what the Archangel told her. Any other young maiden would have reflected on the consequences of being in an embarrassing situation, but not Mary. In mystic simplicity she bowed in total obedience to God’s holy will saying, “Here am I your handmaid; let it be done to me according to your will”. Luke (1:38). Her openness and willingness to life and God’s holy will was a great pro-life act.
Women Libbers and Feminists today are not necessarily our role models. In their fight for Rights and injustices to women, they tend to go to the extreme and forget their femininity altogether. Women were created by God, blessed by the qualities of being helpers, comforters, nurturers and lovers, all required to become companions to the men in our lives. In return we are to be loved, protected and respected. Today, Respect is something we don’t even give ourselves or others.
Mary played an important role in raising Jesus showing all the care and concern for her growing child. She listened to what he said and pondered everything in her heart. When he was a grown man she remained in the background being the anchor, letting him do what he was sent to do, understanding her role, and accepting it. She spoke when she had to, like at the wedding feast of Cana.
After Jesus’ death, broken as she was, she showed the courage and strength to support the frightened leaderless apostles. Her loyalty, commitment and pro-life attitude were well rewarded. She was assumed body and soul into heaven, and crowned as the Queen of Heaven and earth. How wonderful!
Recently the Senate of Argentina voted against a bill that would have liberalised the country’s abortion laws. The plan was to legalise abortion up to 14 weeks gestation and up to birth in cases of rape, risk to mother’s life and health and severe disability. Thousands of Catholics gathered in Buenos Aires Cathedral for a Mass for Life. Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli in his sermon said that ‘abortion will always be a tragedy’ and is ‘far from being a solution’. He called on the senators to “safeguard the right to life of all, especially the weakest and most vulnerable.” This is a great victory for pro-lifers.
The world we live in disregards the prevalent anti-life culture. It tells us that to be truly happy we need to live completely pain free and not endure the pangs of sufferings. Some of life’s greatest lessons are taught through the pain and suffering we bear and yet ironically all of our time and energy is being spent to rid the world of suffering – aborting the unborn because children are considered a ‘burden’. We inflict death on ourselves because we desire a ‘quality life’. Mary shows us by example how to treat every human being as a gift at the beginning and end of life. Her consent during the Annunciation to be the Mother of God and her presence at the foot of the Cross of her crucified son is a telling message that she is God’s champion pro-lifer.
Dr Jeanette Pinto, an educator for the past 5 decades, headed the Department of History was Vice Principal of St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, and retired as Principal of Sophia College, Mumbai. She is a counsellor and conductor of Personal Enrichment Programmes for students and teachers.
She set up the Human Life Committee in the Archdiocese of Bombay. As a sex educator she has given talks on Human Sexuality in India and abroad. In 2014 she received the Rachana Outstanding Woman of the Year for her Pro-life work presented by the Diocese of Mangalore. She has attended many National and International Pro-life conferences and given talks at other fora on various women’s issues.
She is author of a couple of books, her most recent ones are titled: I’m Pro-Life Are you? & Sex Talk: Parent to Child. She has also written a number of articles on a variety of themes and subjects, which have been published in research journals, The Examiner and other Catholic publications.