By Father Vincent P. Brennan, S.M.

(Third in a series)

Marists share with countless others a devotion to Mary. Often we are put to shame by the manifestations of love of our Blessed Mother evidenced by lay people, sisters, brothers, and fellow priests. It is not in our devotion to Mary that we are called by her name. It is in imitating her.

Our founder, John Claude Colin, over 150 years ago saw an opportunity for renewing the Church in a Mary-inspired movement involving laity and religious alike in one family, the family of Mary. The Society of Mary exists, not because of Father Colin’s concern for Mary nor out of people’s devotion to her, but because of Mary’s concern for the Church and her love for God’s people. Our vocation is to identify with her in these concerns.

Although Mary is mentioned but few times in the Gospels, the events depicted offer us the basis for our imitation. From the first mention of Mary at the Annunciation to her association with the apostles waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the portrait of Mary is delicately lined. God’s plan for our redemption called for the free acquiescence of Mary to accept the inestimable honor of being the mother of the Savior.

As Rene Laurentin puts it: “Acquiescing thus, the mother of the Son of God appears as one who listens to, keeps, and realizes in herself the word of God.” This obedience is again seen in the flight into Egypt. A real lesson in obedience is given to us in the person of the steward at Cana. When she interceded with her Son because there was no wine, she warned the stewards: “Do whatever he tells you.”

To fill jars with water when wine was needed seemed foolish. If they did not do what Jesus said, there would have been no miracle. She is the valiant woman during the dark hours of the crucifixion, standing and receiving John as her son and us to be included as her children. She is there at the birth of the Mystical-Body of her Son, the Church, just as she cooperated in the physical birth of her Son.

The prospective Marists as well as the professed are counseled in our constitution: “If they are and desire to be true sons of this dear Mother, let them constantly strive to breathe her spirit. They must think as Mary, judge as Mary, feel and act as Mary in all things.” The measure of our devotion to our first and perpetual superior is gauged by our dedication to the implementation of these words.

Marists carry out this imitation by bringing the word of God to foreign missions in the South Pacific, Japan, and South America. In our own country, Marists have traditionally begun their missions in parts where there was a shortage of priests. This concept brought them to Georgia, Brunswick and Atlanta, where they were given immense territories. In Atlanta, the second pastor, Father John E. Gunn (later Bishop of Natchez), realized the parish priests could not hope to cope with the vast territories of North Georgia.

Since one of the most treasured works of the Marists is education, Father Gunn conceived the idea of a school for boys whose priest-teachers could teach during the week and then radiate out to Athens, Marietta, Cartersville, Rome, Breman, Austell, etc. When more diocesan priests were available, resident pastors were appointed, and the Marists, in imitation of Mary, stepped aside.

Whatever the need of the Church to further the mission of Jesus Christ, the Marist should be willing to listen to God’s voice and acquiesce. Marists are engaged in the traditional works of parishes and schools. They are also working among the poor and deprived, the abandoned, in the labors of the sugar cane workers, the shunned in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the sick in hospitals and nursing homes.

Marists are found in marriage encounter work, retreats, and in writing. Marists are currently examining their present works and are seeking a shared vision for the future. But that vision to be legitimate and worthy of sharing must be consonant with the Spirit of Mary. It must also be sensitive to the needs of the Church and the people of God.