Our Lady of ...Victories?

Actually, the current RC calendar has today as "Our Lady of the Rosary," which certainly is a theology with which I can better identify. Especially now that the Luminous Mysteries have been added (the baptism of Jesus, wedding feast at Cana, proclamation of the kingdom, Transfiguration, and Last Supper), the rosary is a superb meditation on the Incarnation.

Yet this feast initially was that of Our Lady of Victories, proclaimed by Pius V who believed that Mary's intercession led to a naval victory at Lepanto. Yes, I have respect for the Council of Trent, and understand how it corrected many abuses, improved seminary training, led to a marvellous universal Latin rite for the Eucharist. That does not mean that I have a particular fondness for some of the ... excesses of Pius V. (Well, I am, after all, one who uses the handle Gloriana.) It apparently did not occur to Pius that religious fervour would not be stirred amongst English Catholics if they were given the message that they must battle against, ideally execute, their queen, undoubtedly siding with Catholic Spain in the process. And, of course, better to lose all that one has, or to die, than to attend a Church of England service.

I am fully aware, of course, that ideas of God's having taken a personal interest in military victories hardly begins or ends with Pius. Sigh! Mary had seen, to a greater degree than most mothers, to what the fruits of violence and power struggles can lead. I can picture quite a 'hands off' attitude towards perpetuation of violence from any mother who had held the body of her crucified son.

Today, on another forum, I saw a link to an article (...not a satire, more's the pity) regarding how George W. Bush believes that God is talking with him, leading him to victory (eventually) in the Near East. (And here I thought he'd been off the stuff for years...) I want to laugh at the absurdity, but this chills me. I'm wondering just how dangerous this man may be. One 'inspired by God' cannot, of course, be mistaken - or be taking a course of action opposed to the gospels. I'm shivering, remembering when the attacks in Washington DC and New York took place four years ago. Bush threatened to use the atomic bomb on 11 nations - none of whom were involved in the attack. (Atomic warfare, of course, I consider immoral in any case - but to threaten those who had no part in the attack seems the action of one who would just love to drop that horrid bomb.)

It is all the more frightening that, if sites I have seen are any indication, there is a certain 'Christian right' which is all too ready to agree that statements such as this - which I'd consider indicated megalomania, perhaps - are rooted in divine revelation.

The Christian life involves an ascetic vocation. I am not referring to hair shirts - but to removing distractions (and what a task that is!) that we may have our gaze towards God unhampered. The great mystics - and I may see their ideals from afar, but at least am aware - would have been the first to be cautious about any particular revelations or unusual charisms they experienced. (In fact, many, Teresa of Avila being an excellent illustration, saw these consolations as more a distraction than anything to be desired.) They would have great humility - never trust their own feelings or rely on revelations as genuine when they can be the distortions of our own minds, or projections of our desire to be special or have unusual powers or insights. I would imagine that there is nothing of which the mystic saints would have been more wary than any desire for power.

Then again, I am a Franciscan. I would see more of an indication of Christ's presence in caring for the poor - the sick - the elderly - the unfortunate... worrying about those who die in the street, or who are unable to obtain medical care, as well as those who die in the womb. Just a thought, of course, and not intended to mean I exclusively mean anyone in particular...

One more sigh... What is it with the power, boys? Even two apostles were quarrelling over who'd sit at the right hand of Christ and who at the left...

May the Prince of Peace still the wars, whether those we mortals inflict on one another or the tumult in our own hearts, as he calmed the stormy sea. Queen of Peace, Queen of the Franciscan Order, pray for us.