“Tota Pulchra”

By

Robert John Colon

“Tota pulchra es Maria - You are all fair, O Mary”. We can notice these words in a writing of Pope John Paul II for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) (1). In order to fulfill her mission Mary herself was conceived immaculate: Mary was saved from original sin from the first moment of her conception (2). The Immaculate Virgin has spotless spiritual beauty which is for us a living fountain of confidence and hope (3). The Blessed Virgin Mary’s sublime beauty is for every believer a pledge of the win of divine Grace over sin and death (4). This beauty reflects that of Christ (5).

The beauty of Christ is redeeming (6). While we think about this, we might ask: when, in fact, is a person or thing beautiful? What is needed for beauty? According to the Letter to Artists of Pope John Paul II: the good is needed for beauty (7). There is beauty of Christ. Does it not follow that there is goodness of Christ?

In Mary, his goodness came very close to us. In Mary, God has imprinted his own image, the image of the One who goes after the lost sheep even up into the mounts and among the briars and thornbushes of the wrongdoings of this world, letting himself be pierced by the crown of thorns of these wrongdoings so as to take the sheep upon his shoulders and bring it home (8).

He who is the Beauty itself let himself be hit in the face, spat on, crowned with thorns. Yet, in his Face that is so hurt, there appears the real, extreme beauty: the beauty of love that passes “to the very end” (9).

As we celebrate the Immaculate Conception, let us ask for the intercession of Mary, tota pulchra, “all fair”, so that we may see and help others to see the face of God and his goodness, which escorts us even in our deepest heartaches (10).

October 13, 2007

NOTES

(1) See Angelus, 8 December 2003, number 1.

(2) Cf. Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 96.

(3) Cf. John Paul II, Prayer in Piazza di Spagna, 8 December 2004.

(4) Cf. John Paul II, Angelus, 8 December 2004, number 1.

(5) Cf. John Paul II, Angelus, 8 December 2004, number 1.

(6) Cf. Joseph Ratzinger, "The Feeling of Things, the Contemplation of Beauty", 24-30 August 2002.

(7) Cf. number 3.

(8) Cf. Benedict XVI, Homily, 8 December 2005.

(9) Cf. Joseph Ratzinger, "The Feeling of Things, the Contemplation of Beauty", 24-30 August 2002.

(10) See http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2005/via_crucis/en/station_06.html.