To the Band of Brothers: New Year

We recently installed a new image of the Blessed Mother in the patio of Villa Javier, a.k.a. the Jesuit Hilton. It’s a simple marble image that sits no more than three feet tall on a pedestal with a plaque that reads, “Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy.” You would recognize that phrase as the English translation of the first line of our school song, the “Salve Regina.”

This image is of the Immaculate Conception as she appears on the Miraculous Medal. I’m willing to bet either you or someone you know wears this medal around their neck. On one side is the image of Mary and on the other is an M with a cross surrounded by twelve stars and Jesus’s sacred heart and Mary’s immaculate heart at the bottom. The design for this medal dates back to 1830, after the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Catherine Labouré in Paris, France.

One of the things I love most about this image is how the artist depicts the Blessed Mother stepping on the head of a serpent that has an apple in its mouth. The theology of this scene is very powerful. It makes a statement designating Mary as the New Eve. It’s a concept that is very old in the sacred tradition of our Church. The early Church fathers mention it often in their writings. It warrants an explanation.

In the book of Genesis, we find the story of Adam and Eve (2:18-25). The author tells us that after God created Adam and all the living creatures, He realized He needed to create a more suitable partner for the man. From the rib of Adam, He goes on to create a woman whom Adam appropriately calls Eve. I say “appropriately” because the name “Eve” comes from the Hebrew word for “source of life” or “mother of all living.” 

The author of Genesis then tells us the story of the first sin (3:1-20). This couple made the grave mistake of disobeying God by eating the fruit of the tree He had instructed them not to eat. Adam blames Eve for giving him the fruit and, in turn, Eve blames the serpent for telling her to take it. It is a wonderful story that describes in metaphorical terms how sin first entered the world. Because of their disobedience, God banishes Adam and Eve from the garden. To the serpent, He goes on to say, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers. They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel” (3,15).

As you can imagine, from then on, the Old Testament details, in various forms, the story of the descendants of our first parents. It is the history of the people of Israel and builds up to the moment of the fulfillment of a promise that, on more than one occasion, God makes to send a savior or messiah to liberate mankind from sin. On to the scene comes Mary who, unlike Eve, always chooses to obey God and becomes the worthy means by which our savior comes into the world—the antidote to the poison of sin. 

The Church’s reference to Mary as the New Eve is not one that purely arises from her theological musings. The scriptures give the appropriate foundations for making this point. Actually, it is Jesus himself who, on two particular occasions, gives us access to this title. First, in the famous story of the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-11), when Mary informs Jesus that the wine has run out, Jesus responds to her in what seems to be an odd way. He says, “Woman, how does your concern affect me?” What is strange about his response is how he refers to his mother as “woman.” While it may seem at first glance disrespectful, we can interpret it as being a reference to the name given to Eve by Adam in Genesis. Mary, as the mother of all the living, is expressing concern not only for the newly married couple, but for all the people at the reception… her children. The second reference is at the crucifixion. From the cross, Jesus looks down to see his mother and the apostle John. He says to her, “Woman, behold, your son” (John 19:26). Again, Jesus is referring to Genesis. She is no longer simply his mother, but the mother of all the living. 

Mary stepping on the head of the serpent is a reference to the defeat of sin and death that came to the world through the life, death, and resurrection of her son. The first mistake that was made by Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden has been remedied through the obedience of Mary and Jesus. The image is a reminder that the grace provided by Jesus through the intercession of Mary is more powerful than any disgrace that can befall the world. Sin, represented by the serpent, has no power over us. Its bite has no teeth.

While it is true that this Christmas season is a celebration of the birth of our Lord, we cannot fail to remember this woman, our mother, who provided the means by which we have been saved. It is for this reason our Church so wisely celebrates today, the first day of the new year, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The Blessed Mother’s obedience to the Father turned the story of mankind on its head. She is the antithesis of the Genesis story. She is the true example of what God intended for women and men. It is for this reason that we can truly hail her as our holy queen, mother of mercy. 

Auspice Maria.