Homily: from Lauds Solemnity Immaculate Conception, Dec 8, 2009

I have called you by name, and you are mine, says the Prophet Isaiah as he utters the inspired logos, the Word of God.

Permit me to suggest that we spend our meditation this morning on three images: two statues and a bell. Images can be important signs that point to something greater than us. And on this day, our Mother’s day, we cherish her profound presence among us as she guides us ultimately to Him the son and savior of mankind for all eternity.

We are so blessed to have such a remarkable raredos (rar-ra-dus) in this simple Chapel. In fact some might say that this chapel is starkly simple, save for the incredible centerpiece in the front of the sanctuary. One component of it is the statue of Mary, off to the side of her crucified son, pointing to him.

Down below our chapel stands a bell in an unlikely place. Just outside the Crypt Chapel, affixed to the iron grill is our Chapel Bell. But unlike most chapel bells, this one never tolls; in fact it does not even possess a clapper.

About 80 years ago the bell was received by Archbishop Molloy as a gift from Europe. It had been the bell of a cloistered monastery in Spain. Although it never reached its intended place on our roof to toll chimes and call the house to prayer, it brought with it the inscription, “Behold the Virgin Immaculate”. Never to be rung on our shores, but possessing the words which ring out in our hearts on this day. These words that were forged on the bell hundreds of years before Pius the 9ths infallible decree in 1854 stating Mary as the Immaculate Virgin, preserved from original sin.

Finally, our third image, above us, standing silently is a “black Madonna”. Rising in our rafters we see a small statuette of our lady that is hardly noticed but looks over us as we enter and leave the chapel. She reminds us that we are never alone here, even though we may come in solitude.

Why can these images of silence be so profound? Why is Mary Immaculate also Our Lady of Silence?
For an answer, we turn to the mystic Catherine Dougherty, for some spiritual insight.
Wrapped in Silence
“Just think about that strange, incredible, unbelievable faith of a young girl. At fourteen years old she became the Mother of God and the Mother of men. She knew full well that people would not understand that she had conceived by the Holy Spirit. For a long time after her marriage to Joseph she must have been the talk of the town. In those days the women used to wash their linens in ponds. When she brought her linen I'm sure people began to whisper about her. I can just see those gossipy women. But Our Lady never said anything. She was the woman wrapped in silence.”
You see Catherine is saying that Mary doesn’t want to speak, or need to speak. She knows that the “stage” is for Our Lord. She could never do anything beyond her incredible fiat but silently point us to him. What a remarkable witness to her incredible and perfect grace received not at the Annunciation, but instead at her flawless conception.
But what she does instead is point us, silently to him. She asks us to fall silently into her arms, so she may take us to him. She embraces us, and in fact lifts us up as any loving Mother would do and brings us directly to him.
In just a few hours my friends these images will, of course, remain silent. At least, as liturgy coordinator, I hope so. Don’t need nor want any surprises!
But there will also be a profound silence among our five brothers as they first move from standing to bending, then kneeling and finally lying prostrate on this very chapel floor. At that moment they will lie silent as we invoke the Litany of Saints. And as you, and I, and Bishops and priests, and family and friends pray over these men, we will also be joined, in silence.
For here heaven and earth will be joined with a cloud of witnesses; (names of Saints the Deac.Candidates choose), and Michael, Gabriel and Raphael along with the Servants of God Catherine and Fulton Sheen and John Paul II. But allow me to suggest the most profound silent witness will be Mary Immaculate, Queen Mother and chief intercessor, co-redemtrix and patroness of this very house and this very republic.
She watches silently but never without cause (direction) because she simply points to her Son and directs us to Him. He who is the way and the truth and the life. Jesus the Christ, the Son of God who today, especially for Alonzo and Henry and David and John and Nixon, calls you by name.

And one day soon my brothers it will be our turn too. But first, I hope, that we will come to her also. In silence, our protectress, so that she may do her work, and point us to him who frees us from death and allows us, especially, to be formed to Him so that we may act in His person.
I have called you by name, and you are mine, says the Prophet.