Mary, Mother of Oil, Mary: Day: 170

Mary, Mother of Oil

Why would Our Lady be called “Mother of Oil?” St. Alphonsus explains.

The words of the biblical Book of Sirach have been applied to Mary: “like a beautiful olive tree on the plain” (see Sir 24:14). For just as from the olive, only oil—a symbol of mercy—is extracted, so from the hands of Mary, only graces and mercy proceed. For this reason the venerable Fr. Louis de Ponte says, “Mary may properly be called the Mother of Oil, since she is the Mother of Mercy.”

When we go, then, to this good mother for the oil of her mercy, we can’t fear that she’ll deny it to us, as the wise virgins in the Gospel story did to the foolish ones, saying, “Perhaps there may not be enough for us and for you” (Mt 25:9). Oh, no! For she is indeed rich in this oil of mercy; as St. Bonaventure assures us, “Mary is filled with the oil of compassion.” Hugh of Saint Victor declares: “You, Blessed Virgin, are full of grace, and indeed so full, that the whole world may draw of this overflowing oil. While the prudent virgins in the Gospel story provided oil in vessels with their lamps, you, most prudent Virgin, have borne an overflowing and inexhaustible Vessel. With the oil of mercy streaming from this Vessel, you replenish the lamps of all.”

But why, I ask, is this beautiful olive tree said to stand in the midst of the plain, and not rather in the midst of a garden, surrounded by a wall and hedges? The same Hugh of Saint Victor tells us that this is the case so that “all may see her, and all may go to her for refuge.” This beautiful explanation is confirmed by St. Antoninus, who says: “All can go to, and gather the fruit of, an olive tree that is exposed in the midst of a plain. In the same way, all—both righteous and sinners—can turn to Mary, to obtain her mercy.” —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Oil is an ancient symbol of many things: abundance, healing, the Holy Spirit, election by God, and consecration to God. In fact, “Christ” literally means “the one anointed” by oil. How do these symbolic associations enrich our understanding of Mary as the Mother of Oil?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a Father of the Council of Ephesus: Hail, Mary, Mother of God! You are the lamp that is never extinguished. Through you, the oil of gladness reaches us.

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