Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant
In the sacred readings for the feast of the Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church invites us to contemplate her role in the divine plan of salvation. The passage from the Apocalypse (Rev. 11:19; 12:1, 10) presents a vision of the heavenly temple, where the Ark of the Covenant is revealed. Immediately following, St. John describes “a great sign… a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Apoc. 12:1).
The Fathers of the Church have long identified this Woman with the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Andrew of Crete speaks of her as “the purest Ark of the New Covenant,” echoing St. John Damascene, who calls her the “living Tabernacle in whom God dwelt”. Just as the Ark of the Old Covenant contained the tablets of the Law, the manna, and Aaron’s rod (Heb. 9:4), so too did Mary, the new Ark, bear within her the true Bread of Life, the eternal High Priest, and the Word of God made flesh.
The Victory of the Woman
The passage continues: “Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ” (Apoc. 12:10). The victory of Christ is inseparably linked to the role of His Mother. As St. Irenaeus teaches, just as Eve played a role in the fall, so Mary, the New Eve, was instrumental in the redemption:
“The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by the obedience of Mary. What the virgin Eve bound through her unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosed by her faith.” (Adversus Haereses, III.22.4)
The Woman of the Apocalypse, crowned with twelve stars, represents both Mary and the Church. She is the Mother of Christ and of all who are born anew in Him. St. Jerome beautifully expounds on this, saying:
“Death came through Eve, but life has come through Mary.”
The ancient serpent, who sought to deceive Eve, now rages against this Woman and her offspring (Apoc. 12:17), yet he is powerless against her. Mary’s intercession crushes his head, fulfilling the first prophecy of salvation (Gen. 3:15).
Hail, Full of Grace
The Gospel (Luke 1:26-31) takes us to the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel greets Mary: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee”. St. Gregory Thaumaturgus sees in this salutation a divine confirmation of her predestination:
“Rejoice, thou that art highly favored! The Lord is with thee! For thou art pure and incorrupt, and worthy of Him whom none can comprehend.”
The fullness of grace in Mary is not a mere title but a reality that sets her apart from all creatures. She is chosen from eternity to be the Theotokos, the God-bearer. As St. Augustine states:
“He chose the Mother whom He had created; He created the Mother whom He had chosen.” (Sermon 69)
Her fiat, her humble “Be it done unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38), opens the gates of salvation. The Word becomes flesh, and the kingdom of God advances.
Conclusion: The Ever-Present Mother
The apparition of the Blessed Virgin is not merely a historical event but a sign of her ongoing maternal care. Just as she appeared to strengthen the faith of the faithful throughout history, she continues to intercede for the Church today. The Woman clothed with the sun, the Ark of the New Covenant, the New Eve, remains ever vigilant, guiding her children toward the triumph of her Son.
Let us, then, turn to her with confidence, echoing the words of the great Marian saints:
“To Christ through Mary!” – St. Louis de Montfort.
May we always seek her protection and follow her example of faith, humility, and unwavering love for God.
Regina Coeli, ora pro nobis!