THE FIRST step to becoming a true devotee of the Blessed Virgin Mary is touching the hearts of others with the word of Jesus Christ, a mission that must be fulfilled “in season and out of season,” a priest said.
In his homily for the enthronement mass of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario on Thursday, Sept. 26, Our Lady of Loreto Parish Rector Fr. Enrico Martin Adoviso said Mary is the first follower of Christ and the new Ark of the Covenant whose soul “proclaims the greatness of the Lord.”
The Ark of the Covenant is the vessel containing the Ten Commandments that were passed on by God to Moses.
According to Adoviso, each devotee has the mission to proclaim the word of Christ and to emulate Mary who carried Him not just in her womb but also in her heart.
“You also have a vessel…in your heart. And St. Agustin says each vessel in the heart has a hole…to let God in,” Adoviso told mass attendees at the Santisimo Rosario Parish church.
“Kapag hindi niya pinapalaganap ang salita ng Diyos, hindi siya tunay na alagad ni Kristo, sapagkat ang una pong requirement para maging deboto tayo kay Maria ay tayo’y nagpapalaganap ng salita ni Kristo.”
(He who does not spread the word of the Lord is not a true follower of Christ, for the first requirement in being a true devotee of Mary is to proclaim the word of Christ.)
Quoting St. Paul, Adoviso said followers of the mission must not merely listen to the word of Christ but make it a part of their lives “in season and out of season.”
“If we love Mary, may we spread the word of Jesus not just here in the University but also outside of the University…As a true Christian, St. Paul said ‘he has to proclaim the word of God in season and out of season.’ Let us show that Jesus is in every part of our lives,” he said.
The priest likened the mission of Mary to protecting the word of God.
“Huwag tayong magsasawang magdeboto sa Mahal na Ina pero huwag din nating kakalimutan ang misyon natin: palaganapin ang salita ni Hesus.”
(Let us not grow tired of our devotion to the Blessed Mother, but let us also not forget our mission: to spread the word of Jesus.)
Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario highlights the intercession of the Blessed Mother through the holy rosary. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary is the patroness of the University’s parish.
The Santisimo Rosario Parish marked the start of her feast with a procession of her image inside the campus. F – Christian Querol with reports from Veancy Palad
