Dear Parishioners of Mary Immaculate and Saint Rose,

For the six weeks of Lent we have reflected on the sorrows of Mary.  With Easter morning, sorrow is replaced by the joy of the Risen Lord!

It is fitting, therefore, that we begin our Easter reflection with the joyful encounter of the Blessed Virgin Mary with her Risen Lord and Son.  The scriptures are silent on the occurrence of this reunion of Mother and Son.  The Gospel of John tells us that the Blessed Mother was at the foot of the Cross and the Book of Acts tells us that she was present at Pentecost, but there is no mention of the Virgin Mary in regards to Easter Sunday.

It is an ancient tradition of our Church that the Blessed Virgin Mary was the first to witness the Risen Jesus.  Many of the saints mention this.  Even St. Ignatius of Loyola has a meditation in his Exercises based on this subject.  Even if there is no specific proof regarding this reunion, it makes perfect sense that the Blessed Virgin would be granted this grace of being the first to witness the resurrection of her Son.

Pope Saint John Paul II has a whole teaching on why Mary was the first to see the Risen Christ.  One of the reasons is that it was her right as the Mother of Jesus to be the first to be comforted and reassured by His physical presence following His resurrection from the dead. Who better to be the first to experience the joy of the resurrection!  He also states that her absence from those who were present at the empty tomb on Easter Sunday morning is significant. She was not there because she knew He was not there. She had no need to be at the empty tomb because she already knew it would be empty. She already shared in the joy of knowing He lives!

Mary was privileged to share in the life of Jesus in a way that was experienced by none other.  And now her understanding of Jesus risen was also like none other.  She who pondered so many things within her heart, was now blessed with a certainty regarding eternal life more profound and firmly rooted in her love for God than anyone would ever experience.

The Blessed Virgin Mary carried the Son of God within her in a unique way.  Now she carried the Risen Lord and God in her heart in a singular way with a love beyond all telling.

May the joy of the Risen Lord and the love of His Mother Mary fill your heart! 

Happy Easter!

Msgr. Cox
Christ Appears to His Mother, Melchior-Paul von Deschwanden  (1865)