Monthly Spiritual Message, December 2005
By Fr Tony Fox OFM Conv.
Our Lady appeared to St. Catherine Laboure (whose relics have been visiting Australia) in 1830 as the Immaculate Conception. A title of Mary that is so dear to the heart of every Franciscan from the time of Francis until today. It was to St. Catherine that Our Lady instructed that a medal be struck after the model “Graces will be abundant to those who wear it.” It serves as a mini-catechism of the Church’s teaching on Our Lady. In a vision Mary stood on a globe with a brilliant light streaming from her jeweled fingers. “Behold the symbol of graces shed upon those who ask for them.” She said, representing herself as the Mediatrix of All Graces. Surrounding her a banner read, “ O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you,” symbolizing her Immaculate Conception. The vision reversed showing the letter “M” entwined with a cross above the Sacred Hearts. The image represents Mary as Co-Redemptrix, a unique participator in Jesus’ saving action of redemption.
Millions of medals have been distributed and untold graces given “ to those who wear it around their neck” as the Blessed Mother promised to St. Catherine. Hearing of miraculous conversion of the agnostic Alphonse Ratisbonne through the Medal, St. Maximilian Kolbe O.F.M.Conv. made wearing it and integral part of his movement the Crusade of Mary Immaculate. He called the Miraculous Medal “a bullet with which the faithful soldier hits his enemy, that is evil, and thus rescues souls.” This medal is the only one of the millions of medals that have been struck down through history that was designed by Our Blessed Mother herself. It is donation by Her to us. St. Maximilian wanted to organize a spiritual army to combat the evil forces in the world and the spiritual uniform was the Miraculous Medal. He believed that this simple means of living out a Marian Consecration within the Franciscan Tradition was a powerful and effective means for evangelizing the world. Through the hands of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, conversion of sinners and unbelievers would be accomplished to bring about the reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
St. Maximilian strongly recommended that the spreading of the miraculous medal was a sign of Mary’s maternal concern for sinners and powerful means of conversion. I never really understood this recommendation after being a member of the Crusade of Mary Immaculate and making the Total Consecration after many years until I experienced the power of Mary’s Maternal intercession personally. A lady had called the Friary to obtain some Miraculous Medals and some information on the Crusade of Mary Immaculate which she needed quite urgently. I was able to make up the package and began to walk to the local Post Office. As I walked along the street in my habit there was a young man walking in the other direction towards me. Our eyes glanced as we passed one another and I continued walking. After a little while I could feel a presence behind that seemed to move faster towards me. Believing that I was going to be mugged I moved faster along the street. As I moved faster so did the presence behind me. Felling very anxious and tired I decided to submit to what was to follow.
I stopped and began to face whoever my attacker was going to be with a prayer on my lips. There standing face to face with me was the young man I had passed on the street minutes before. I expected then to be mugged. He asked if I was a priest to which I replied “Yes”. He asked if he could talk to me. Knowing now I was not going to be mugged and with a sigh of relief and a prayer of thanks I asked if he would like to come to the Friary and talk there. He agreed. I settled down to hear his story. He told me that he was engaged to be married to the most beautiful girl in the world. They had spent four wonderful years together getting to know each other and grow in their love for each other. Three weeks before we met he had asked this wonderful girl to marry him to which she said “Yes”. It made him the happiest man in the world.
He then began to say that they had been making wonderful plans for their future together. All of their families were happy about the news. However this morning he received the news that his fiancé and her parents were travelling back from relatives when their car was side swiped by a Large Semi-Trailer killing his fiancé and badly injuring her parents. He was devastated and did not know what to do or how he felt. Emotionally he was drained of all feeling and found himself wandering the streets aimlessly. That is when he spotted me. He told me that he had no religion and did not quite understand those who possessed faith. But he had nowhere else to turn. Maybe if he had faith he could make sense of it all but did not know where to look. He broke down and began to sob uncontrollably. Then I began to speak to him about the Woman I love and how she had helped me through many tough times and was always in the background guiding me and being a source of wisdom and comfort. That she was a woman who did not have it easy and to face much heartache and sorrow but was always the bright ray of hope through it all. That she was the woman who accepted even though she did not understand and the one who stood by he Son’s execution when many friends ran away. How she supported his friends even after his horrific death on a tree as a criminal she remained with his friends in an upper room. I told of her joy when she saw him after the Resurrection and of her joy of being the Mother of the Son of God, Mary.
I asked him if we wanted to meet her. He did. So I led him into the Friary Chapel where there was a statue of the Immaculate Conception and all he could do was to stare in amazement at this beautiful lady. We shared some of his feelings for his dead fiancé and I shared with him that this Beautiful Lady would look after her and him. He asked to be left alone while he could take some time for thinking (I think in that time alone Mary taught him to pray). When I returned he thanked me for my time and there was a serenity and a peace that resonated in him. He told me he had found a new friend that day whom he called the Beautiful Lady. I gave him a Miraculous Medal to take with him which he gratefully accepted. I never knew what happened to him after that morning but I do know Our Lady opened his heart to grace in a time of great desolation. She is full of surprises. So as we prepare to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception let us not just keep it as a Liturgical Feast which is good but let us give it real flesh by sharing with others and giving to others this Medal called Miraculous given to St. Catherine but designed by the Blessed Mother herself. Mary is our Motherly Advocate and Guide maybe witnesses to the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Love. May Mary shower you with many blessings on her Feast Day and may our Franciscan Saints who showed such filial love to the Immaculate Virgin bless you in all wonderful work you share in for the building up of the kingdom of heaven.
May I take this opportunity to thank all of you for your encouragement and support to all the Spiritual Assistants in your fraternities, at regional and at national level. I have felt very much loved and encouraged by meeting so many of you in my capacity as National Spiritual Assistant. At our Chapter a new National Spiritual Assistant is to be appointed as I have been given a new assignment. It has been a joy and privilege to work along side of so many men and women of the SFO. I know you will give the new Spiritual Assistant from the Conventuals the same support and encouragement you gave me. God bless you all and may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts. I take the opportunity to wish you and your families a very blessed and happy celebration of the Birth of Our Saviour Jesus Christ and many graces and blessings for 2006.
PAX ET BONUM
Fr. Tony Fox O.F.M.Conv.
