The readings for the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary on October 12, 2024, come from Ecclesiasticus 24:14-16 and Luke 11:27-28, offering a profound meditation on Mary’s unique role in salvation history and her exalted virtues. These passages, read within the context of the Traditional Latin Mass, deepen our appreciation of the Blessed Virgin’s singular grace and her role as both the Mother of God and the exemplar of faith.
Ecclesiasticus 24:14-16: “I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in Jericho…”
In Ecclesiasticus, we encounter the personified Wisdom of God describing itself as taking root among the chosen people and flourishing in beauty and strength. The Church, reading this text liturgically, often applies these words to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is regarded as the Seat of Wisdom. She is exalted like the palm tree in Cades—a symbol of victory and righteousness—standing tall in her holiness and being fruitful through her maternal role in God’s plan.
St. Ambrose interprets Mary as “the garden enclosed” (cf. Song of Solomon 4:12), where divine Wisdom delights to dwell. Her virtues are like the varied flowers in a garden, showing forth the richness of God’s grace in her life. Mary’s exaltation is not only due to her physical motherhood of Christ but more so to her profound humility and submission to God’s will, which allowed the Divine Wisdom to dwell in her soul and manifest itself fully through her. As St. Augustine teaches, she first conceived Christ in her heart through faith before conceiving Him in her womb.
The imagery of the “rose in Jericho” also signifies the beauty of Mary’s soul, adorned with the grace of God. St. Bernard of Clairvaux speaks of her as the “Mystical Rose,” whose fragrance fills the whole world. Her virtues not only exalt her but also call the faithful to seek a life that reflects her purity and devotion.
Luke 11:27-28: “Blessed is the womb that bore thee… Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”
In the Gospel, we hear a woman in the crowd praising Mary’s physical motherhood. Our Lord responds by shifting the focus from Mary’s biological connection to Him to the deeper spiritual reality of her obedient faith. While affirming the blessedness of His mother, Jesus emphasizes that true blessedness comes from hearing and keeping God’s word. This does not detract from Mary’s honor; rather, it points to the deeper reason for her blessedness: her perfect conformity to God’s will.
St. Bede the Venerable explains that Christ’s response highlights Mary’s greater blessedness as one who fully embraced God’s Word. She is the perfect model of discipleship because she was the first and most faithful hearer and doer of the Word. Her “fiat” (“let it be done”) at the Annunciation (cf. Luke 1:38) signifies her total openness and active cooperation with God’s grace, making her not only the Mother of Christ but the Mother of all believers.
St. John Chrysostom likewise reflects on this passage, noting that Christ’s words are not meant to diminish His mother’s honor but to elevate the faithful who imitate her obedience. Mary’s blessedness is accessible to all who, like her, listen to God’s Word and respond with a heart full of faith. Thus, her glory as the Mother of God points beyond itself to the spiritual kinship she shares with all who live according to God’s commandments.
Mary as the New Eve and Model of the Church
Taken together, these readings highlight Mary as the New Eve, whose “yes” to God reversed the disobedience of the first Eve. The Church Fathers, such as St. Irenaeus, often draw parallels between Eve and Mary, underscoring that through Mary’s faith, grace entered the world, just as through Eve’s disobedience, sin entered. Mary stands as the “woman” foretold in Genesis 3:15, whose offspring would crush the head of the serpent. Her cooperation in God’s plan of redemption is foundational to the Church’s understanding of her role in the economy of salvation.
The reflection on these readings within the Tridentine liturgical tradition calls the faithful to honor the Blessed Virgin not only for her exalted status but for the path she charts toward holiness. Her “yes” to God invites us to respond similarly to God’s call in our own lives, to cultivate virtues and live in accordance with His commandments.
Conclusion
As we meditate on these passages, we are reminded that the Blessed Virgin Mary embodies the perfect disciple, one who truly “hears the word of God and keeps it” (Luke 11:28). Her exaltation is not merely in the honor of being Christ’s mother but in her unwavering obedience to God. Thus, she is both our Queen and our exemplar, showing us that the path to true blessedness lies in humble submission to God’s will and a life lived in faithfulness to His Word. Let us, therefore, seek her intercession, that we too may grow in virtue and share in the blessedness she enjoys in heaven.