The readings for Saturday after the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost, in the traditional liturgical calendar, invite us to contemplate the profound role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in salvation history. The Mass formulary Salve, Sancta Parens (“Hail, Holy Parent”) venerates the Mother of God, presenting her as a key figure in the fulfillment of God’s salvific plan. The readings from Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 24:14-16 and Luke 11:27-28 offer a rich opportunity to explore Mary’s role, combining the Old Testament’s poetic imagery with Christ’s own words in the New Testament.
Ecclesiasticus 24:14-16: The Wisdom of God Dwelling Among Men
In Ecclesiasticus 24, we read:
“And I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree on Mount Sion. I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in Jericho. As a fair olive tree in the plains, and as a plane tree by the water in the streets, I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon, and aromatical balm: I yielded a sweetness like the best myrrh.”
This passage, traditionally interpreted in the Church to refer to the Wisdom of God, has been understood by many Church Fathers to also foreshadow the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Seat of Wisdom. St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Ambrose both see in these verses a Marian significance, where the beauty and fragrance described signify the graces that adorn Mary as the Mother of God and the Mediatrix of all graces. Her virtues and the divine wisdom that dwells within her are as evident as the glorious cedars and aromatic spices.
St. Bernard writes that just as these trees and spices are symbols of spiritual excellence and holy fragrance, so too does Mary’s soul diffuse the fragrance of her virtues to the whole Church. Her exaltation “like a cedar in Libanus” prefigures the exaltation of her humility and obedience, which allowed her to become the Mother of the Word Incarnate. As St. Alphonsus Liguori later elaborates, Mary’s humility is like the “sweet smell of cinnamon,” reaching to the heavens and bringing grace to mankind. This reading invites us to consider Mary not only in her role as Mother but as a vessel of divine wisdom, radiating grace to the faithful.
Luke 11:27-28: “Blessed Are They Who Hear the Word of God and Keep It”
In the Gospel reading, a woman in the crowd raises her voice to praise Mary, saying:
“Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the breasts that gave thee suck.”
Christ’s response, however, redirects the praise to a deeper truth:
“Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
At first glance, Our Lord’s reply might seem to downplay Mary’s maternal role. Yet, as St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom explain, Christ is actually elevating Mary’s blessedness by emphasizing the very reason for her true glory: not merely that she bore Him physically, but that she perfectly obeyed God’s will. Mary is the first and most excellent disciple of Christ, having accepted God’s Word in her heart long before it took flesh in her womb. She heard the angel’s message, “Let it be done to me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38), and kept it faithfully throughout her life.
St. Augustine beautifully articulates this dual blessedness of Mary: “She conceived Him in her heart before she conceived Him in her womb.” In this way, Christ’s words in Luke 11:28 do not diminish Mary’s honor, but instead highlight the greater blessedness of her spiritual motherhood—the result of her unwavering fidelity to God’s word.
The Unity of the Two Readings in the Context of Marian Devotion
The selection of Ecclesiasticus 24 and Luke 11 for the votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary reveals the Church’s deep wisdom in pairing Old Testament typology with New Testament fulfillment. The imagery of Ecclesiasticus, evoking beauty, fertility, and holiness, speaks prophetically of Mary’s role in salvation history as the immaculate vessel chosen to bear the Son of God. This Wisdom, personified in the Old Testament, finds its resting place in Mary, who became the living Ark of the New Covenant.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus points us to the essence of true blessedness—obedience to God. Mary exemplifies this as she lived a life of perfect conformity to God’s will. Her Fiat at the Annunciation is a testament to her deep faith and complete trust in God’s plan. The Fathers of the Church frequently emphasize that her “yes” was not a one-time event but a constant, ongoing response to God’s call.
Practical Reflections for the Faithful
Reflecting on these passages, we are called to imitate Mary’s virtues, particularly her humility and obedience. The Mass’s emphasis on Mary’s sanctity reminds us to seek holiness in our own lives by hearing and keeping the Word of God. Mary, as the exemplar of all virtues, especially teaches us the value of submission to God’s will. As St. Louis de Montfort encourages, we should consecrate ourselves entirely to her, allowing her to guide us in fulfilling God’s Word in our own hearts.
In our prayers and devotions, we might meditate on the symbols in Ecclesiasticus—the cedar, palm, olive, and rose—as representations of the virtues we should strive for, inspired by Mary’s example. Her blessedness came not merely from her divine maternity but from her continual consent to God’s grace, a reminder that holiness is attained by a faithful and enduring response to God’s call.
Conclusion
The Saturday Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary invites us to see Mary in the full light of her glory: the Seat of Wisdom, the obedient Handmaid, and the Mother of the Church. The scriptural passages from Ecclesiasticus and Luke offer complementary perspectives that help us appreciate both her exalted state and her humility. By meditating on these readings, we can deepen our devotion to the Blessed Virgin and resolve to emulate her in living out our Christian vocation. As we approach her with love and veneration, let us remember that true blessedness lies in hearing the Word of God and keeping it, just as Mary did.