Our Blessed Mother is indeed so close to the hearts of many Filipinos, something that people of different faith affiliations find irreligious. "Why come to the mother when the son is the only way?" they said. But who can blame us? The Filipino culture is very matriarchal. And for most of us,even with religion aside, the way to the son or daughter is always through the mother.Our closeness to Mary is thus truly very Filipino. And I believe expressing our faith through our culture makes our belief system more solid and sound.
But faith devotion expressed through our culture must be pragmatic so as not to be led to the danger of becoming "bind"devotees of Mary.Our devotion to her must move us to emulate her. As the first disciple,Mary's life is filled with so many ideals that we can learn from in our own Christian discipleship.
The first chapter of the Gospel of Luke,which takes us one single narrative the account of the Annunciation and the Visitation (Luke 1:26-56), contains relevant standards that we can use as we judiciously live out our devotion to her.
But faith devotion expressed through our culture must be pragmatic so as not to be led to the danger of becoming "bind"devotees of Mary.Our devotion to her must move us to emulate her. As the first disciple,Mary's life is filled with so many ideals that we can learn from in our own Christian discipleship.
The first chapter of the Gospel of Luke,which takes us one single narrative the account of the Annunciation and the Visitation (Luke 1:26-56), contains relevant standards that we can use as we judiciously live out our devotion to her.
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