Mary did not plead with Pilate, Mary: Day 242

Mary did not plead with Pilate

Mary refrained from appearing before Pilate to plead for Jesus’ life, notes St. Alphonsus; she appeared publicly only to be with Jesus at the Cross. Why was she silent the whole time?

Why was Mary silent during the passion of Jesus, when he was unjustly
accused? Why did she say nothing to Pontius Pilate, who was somewhat inclined to set him at liberty, knowing, as he did, his innocence? Yet she appeared in pub- lic only to attend the great sacrifice to be accomplished on Calvary. She accom- panied her beloved Son to the place of execution, and she was with him from the first moment, when he was nailed to the Cross. She was there until she saw him die, and the sacrifice was consummated. Why was Mary silent as she endured all this? Because she did all this to complete the offering that she had made of her Son to God in the temple, when he was still an Infant.

To understand the violence that Mary had to allow herself to suffer in this sacrifice, it’s necessary to understand the love that this mother bore to Jesus. Generally speaking, the love of mothers is so tender toward their children that, when their children are at the point of death, and there is fear of losing them, it causes them to forget all their faults and defects, and even the injuries they may have received from them. It makes them suffer an inexpressible grief.

Even so, the love of these mothers is a love divided among other children, or at least among other creatures. But Mary had an only Son, and he was the most beautiful of all the sons of Adam—most amiable, for he had everything to make him so: He was obedient, virtuous, innocent, holy. Suffice it to say, he was God. Again, this mother’s love wasn’t divided among other objects. She had concen- trated all her love on this only Son. Nor did she fear to be excessive in loving him; for this Son was God, who merits infinite love. And this was precisely the Son who became the victim which she of her own free will had to sacrifice to death. —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Have I ever had to remain silent in order to obey God, even though everything inside me wanted to cry out? If so, does that experience help me understand more deeply the sacrifices Mary made?

CLOSING PRAYER
Holy Mary, show me how to treasure silence, and how to cultivate discretion. Teach me to pray with the psalmist, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips” (Ps 141:3).

________________________________________________________________________
Remember to subscribe to my feed so you will not miss a day! This recurring feature at The Catholic Blogger is possible through the cooperation of author Paul Thigpen and publisher Saint Benedict Press. To get your own copy of this book, click below.