Opinion
By Val. Obienyem
TODAY, 8 September, is traditionally celebrated as the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our chaplain, Fr. Chigozie Jidere mentioned that the celebration might be somewhat subdued because, traditionally, the Church dedicates Sundays to Christ, which Archbishop Albert Obiefuna described as our “weekly Easter”. As a result, the Sunday liturgy is not adjusted for any other celebration, reflecting the Church’s focus on worship solely reserved for Christ. While we hold profound respect for the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is crucial to remember that we do not worship her.
Unlike the dogmas concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary – namely, the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, her Motherhood of God (Theotokos), and her Perpetual Virginity – her Nativity is not considered a dogma. As Ichie Fred Chukwuelobe acknowledged, some of these beliefs can be challenging, but by faith, we are called to believe before questioning. For me, as long as it falls within the realm of Christianity, the Catholic Church is always correct. However, it does not require special revelation for us to acknowledge that she was born.
Fr. clarified that not only Catholics but all Christians should celebrate today, as it marks the birthday of Mary, who holds a significant place in the scheme of salvation. He recalled how Christ entrusted Mary to the world as the mother of all, symbolically giving her to John at the foot of the cross with the words, “Son, behold your mother; mother, behold your son.” This act extends to us, making us partakers in that solemn and profound motherhood. Disagreements, often due to ignorance, do not alter this reality.
As we celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I wish her a heartfelt happy birthday. She will forever remain our mother.
I recall a pilgrimage to Israel a few years ago, where we visited the Church of St. Anne, built over the traditional birthplace of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This church is situated near the Pool of Bethesda. Such traditions illustrate how the Church’s tradition evolve. Although the Bible does not explicitly name Mary’s parents, Anne and Joachim, we know of them through tradition. Similarly, tradition informs us of the names of the three wise men who visited Christ and the two thieves crucified alongside Him, one of whom is honoured as a saint today.
This underscores why the Church holds apostolic tradition in high regard. These traditions, practised by the apostles and the early Church Fathers, are truths that may not be explicitly stated in the Bible but are integral to the faith. As a Church founded by Christ, the Catholic Church, along with other churches that share in its universality and apostolicity, maintains the custody of these traditions.
Curiously, the Church of St. Anne, like almost all other holy sites, is under the custody of the Catholic Church as the custodian of Christian tradition and heritage. This is among their core duties in the Catholic Church. Other churches in the Holy Land under their custody include: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of the Nativity, the Church of the Pater Noster, the Church of the Ascension, the Church of All Nations, the Basilica of the Annunciation, the Church of the Beatitudes, the Church of the Multiplication, the Monastery of the Temptation, the Church of the Dormition, and the Church of the Flagellation (where Jesus was flogged).
These churches, along with many not mentioned here, are part of the Franciscans’ extensive custodianship of Christian holy places, further proving that the Catholic Church’s role as the mother of all Christians can only be ignorantly denied, but not disproved.
This brief excursion aims to educate those who may condemn what they do not understand – those I refer to as little demons, without respect for the holy water. As usual, they will read not to understand or appreciate the Church’s rich history but to express their usual unadulterated ignorance and nonsense.
A.I
Sept. 9, 2024
Tags: Archbishop Albert Obiefuna Val. Obienyem
