Conference speakers discuss role of Blessed Virgin Mary
Father Peter Damian Fehlner, left, and author Scott Hahn were among the speakers at the Oct. 13 “Behold Your Mother” conference at Our Lady of the Greenwood Church in Greenwood.
By Katie Berger (Special to The Criterion)
GREENWOOD—Nearly 1,000 people filled Our Lady of the Greenwood Church in Greenwood throughout the day and into the night on Oct. 13 to pray and to learn more about the Blessed Virgin Mary.
They were present for “Behold Your Mother,” a conference sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, an international religious order founded in 1990.
Members of the order staff the Our Lady of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Monroe County.
Among the speakers at the conference were Deacon Mark Miravalle, author Scott Hahn, Franciscan Father Peter Damian Fehlner and international recording artist Dana Scallon, who served as master of ceremonies for the program.
From doctrine to dogma
“The Daughter of the Father, Mother of the Son and spouse of the Holy Spirit” is what Deacon Mark Miravalle, professor of Mariology and Spiritual Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, called the Blessed Virgin Mary, noting her role as co-redemptrix, mediatrix and advocate as being in cooperation with each person of the Holy Trinity.
This fifth Marian Dogma, which would recognize Mary’s role of cooperating with the work of Jesus, Deacon Miravalle says, is essential in understanding redemption.
“Mary uniquely cooperated and participated with Jesus and entirely depended on Jesus.”
Deacon Miravalle said the proclamation as an infallible dogma of these current doctrines of the Church would complement earlier Marian dogmas.
The dogma that Mary is the Mother of God and that she remained a perpetual virgin were defined within the first 1,000 years of the Church. Mary’s Immaculate Conception and Assumption into heaven were defined, respectively, in 1854 and 1950.
While the first four dogmas proclaim Mary’s role in relation to Jesus, the fifth dogma would highlight Mary’s role in relation to all of humanity and make complete all Marian dogma.
Deacon Miravalle said part of understanding the teaching that Mary is co-redemptrix, mediatrix and advocate involves accepting and defending it. He said it is rooted in Church tradition, Scripture and papal teachings, and was supported by many saints.
Defining this doctrine as a dogma, however, does not come without objections from a variety of groups, including many Catholics.
Through the course of his presentation, Deacon Miravalle addressed four major objections often raised to the pronouncement of Mary in these three roles.
One objection presents the argument that this dogma elevates Mary as the fourth person of the Holy Trinity, giving her almost goddess stature.
In reply to this, Deacon Miravalle said, “ ‘Co’ does not mean equal. ‘Co’ means ‘with.’ Mary uniquely cooperated and participated with Jesus and entirely depended on Jesus in the work of Jesus.”
Beyond the objections, Deacon Miravalle said the more exciting part is the fruit that will come from this dogma, which he noted will include greater dignity for the human person, increased dignity of women, the renewed emphasis on the redemptive value of suffering and, most importantly, unity in the Church.
Scott Hahn
It was while helping his wife during the birth of one of their six children 23 years ago that Scott Hahn first heard of the wonders of the miraculous events that reportedly occurred at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917.
As Hahn was helping his wife through her breathing, his eyes were drawn to the television, where he saw a person talking about Fatima. Hahn wondered why he had never heard of Fatima.
“How in the world did I miss out on this?” he thought.
Hahn, a professor of Scripture and Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, is a popular Catholic speaker and author.
At the time that he saw part of the television show during his wife’s labor, Hahn was a Protestant minister who was studying the Catholic faith, but was troubled by the Church’s claims about Mary.
“Mary, Mary seemed quite contrary to the Bible I read,” Hahn joked.
It was not only the teaching on the Immaculate Conception and others that made Hahn uneasy. It was especially in the thought that Mary continues her work in the redemption of humanity. He said he saw this emphasis on Mary detracting from Jesus.
“I wanted to protect the glory of my Savior and my Lord,” he said.
Now, as a Catholic, Hahn sees Mary as not detracting from Jesus, but rather like a prism, where she is “refracting the light of his redemptive work” to all.
As a Catholic, he is also supportive of this fifth Marian dogma.
“I think this will show the world the revelation of Christ’s glory and the perfection of his redemptive work where it is found in its most splendid form—his mother,” Hahn said.
Father Peter Damian Fehlner
“Do we need Our Lady? We certainly do. We know we do,” Franciscan Father Peter Damian Fehlner told those attending the Marian conference.
The question then, he says, is, “Do we want her?”
Father Peter, an author, professor and lecturer, has also appeared regularly on the Eternal Word Television Network.
He challenged his audience to recognize and appreciate Mary’s role in the work of redemption, her inseparable union with Jesus and her ongoing presence in the lives of all believers.
“The Mother and the Son are never separated, neither in life or in death or in glory,” he said.
Father Peter later asked his listeners about their relationship with Mary.
“Do we want Mary? Are we willing to accept Mary as our mother?”
Like several speakers throughout the day, Father Peter stressed the centrality to going through Mary to God, our Father.
“Those who will not take Our Lady as their Mother will not have God as Father.”
Mary is our advocate, he added.
“If we ask her to do it, she will do it for all of us,” Father Peter said, “Whatever Our Lady wishes is, in fact, one with the will of God.”
Dana Scallon
After a full day of speakers, international recording artist Dana Scallon concluded the conference by performing several of her popular songs.
She discussed her own past struggles with Mary, but acknowledged the importance of the Blessed Mother in her life now.
The second song she performed was “Totus Tuus” (“totally yours”), a phrase made popular by Pope John Paul II recognizing Mary’s “yes” at the Annunciation as the total giving of herself to God.
Scallon also spoke of her promotion of the World Wide Holy Hour for Children, a group that aims to bring children to spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
In her work bringing children to the Blessed Sacrament, she said she sees Mary as playing an essential role in this effort.
“Where there is devotion to the Blessed Mother,” she said, “there is a keen awareness of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.” †
