Like MARY, Giving a Prophetic Direction

to MISSION and JUSTICE

Devoted specifically to overseas missions, the MIC Institute has been placed, since its founding, under the patronage of Mary, the first missionary and the apostle par excellence. Inspired by her role in the advent of Salvation and by the praise that flowed from her heart, we can discern the contemporary face of mission, one that is embodied in the world of today. Is mission outdated? It's more current than ever!

by Benoît Fortin, o.f.m. cap.
MIC Mission News (Oct-Nov-Dec 2005)

The State STATE of the world and the Church recalls the deep origins of our faith within this new culture The Women's Global Charter for Humanity, like the recent World Forum of Porto Alegre, Brazil in January 2005, sounded cries of alarm and summoned the world to a new way of life: This Women's Global Charter for Humanity calls on women and men and all oppressed peoples and groups of the planet to proclaim, individually and collectively, their power to transform the world and radically change social structures with a view to developing relationships based on equality, peace, freedom, solidarity and justice (Women's Global Charter for Humanity). Our Christian life must be a part of this great movement of resistance and alternatives to defend life on earth and to turn things around, because a different world is possible. Like Mary, we feel sent to build a world of justice and peace.

Like Mary, we are rooted in the revolutionary movement of God and Life.

Mary, as a woman faithful to the God of her fathers and mothers, was part of God's great plan of Life. She knew that her God hears the cries of his people and shows his true face when he releases the slaves, that he hurts with our suffering like a mother in labour. He is present in a special way where life is threatened, but also where life is being transformed. Mary also knew, as the Prophets had revealed, that true worship is determined by compassion towards the weak and by working for justice.

Mary's life was changed by Jesus who made himself SOLIDARITY in the flesh and blood of history with what humanity suffers, loves and hopes: And the Word was made, flesh and he lived among us (John 1:14) . By proclaiming the Beatitudes and the coming of his Kingdom, Jesus announced that the life of the poor was going to change. Jesus lived with the marginalized, men and women, going as far as being identified with them, and his plan of life in abundance ran up against the powerful ones who assassinated him. Jesus' disciples, going against the current, were ready to risk their lives so that the Kingdom would come with the power of his Spirit.

Mary sings of change to benefit the poor.

Mary celebrates the world of justice that is coming. Through her prophetic song of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), Mary was in keeping with the prophetic tradition of the people of God. Mary is a model for her awareness of the signs of the times, for her inner self, holding all these things deep in her heart. The Magnificat proclaims that she is rooted in her history and that she has a burning passion for God who makes great things for us, but who upsets the powerful in their complicity: We take Mary as a guide and with her we sing the Magnificat like a prophetic warning to the proud of heart, the powerful and the wealthy who do not want to hear the cry of the poor (Marie-Paule Sanfaçon, M.I.C., Superior General, November 10, 2004).

At the foot of the cross of crucified humanity, Mary, Mother of Sorrows, is constantly in visitation so she might recognize the signs of the Kingdom. In her Magnificat, she sings her wonder before the changes of history. It is the song of the prophetess with a penetrating insight that sees the coming of the Kingdom of God in the lifting up of the poor and in the arrival of justice. The canticle of Mary was considered in some countries to be a dangerous song that encouraged revolution. A socially committed, female theologian from Brazil said admiringly: The song of Mary, the Magnificat, is a battle song; it is a song about the struggle of God engaged in human history, the struggle for the establishment of egalitarian relationships, for deep respect for each person in whom the divine dwells... The song of Mary is the "plan of the Kingdom of God", just like the one that Jesus read in the synagogue (Luke 4:16-21). Mary's labour has a collective significance in which we all are implicated... It brings about the birth of God in humanity (Gebara and Lucchetti, "Maria" in Mysterium Liberationis, TI, p. 607).

The Women's Global Charter for Humanity is like a secular version of the Magnificat of the women of today who condemn and proclaim: We represent over half of humanity. We give life, we work, love, create, struggle, and have fun... With this Women's Global Charter for Humanity and our upcoming actions, we reaffirm that another world is possible, a world filled with hope and life that is truly a fine place to live. We proclaim our love of the world, to its diversity and its beauty (Women's Global Charter for Humanity).

Working in the prophetic movements

Following Mary, our action and our prayer must be part of the Holy Spirit's ongoing plan. Where are the promises of the Magnificat currently happening? We must open our eyes like Mary to see the Magnificat being accomplished. Every country, every village must also find a way of their own through their actions to make the Magnificat happen. Things are already happening. These new movements proclaim that the state of inequity is unacceptable and that a new world is possible.

Like Mary, celebrating the present

Like Mary, we must offer hopeful alternatives to our times. This commitment, following the example of Mary, demands incarnation, information, analysis and solidarity. The people who killed Jesus made a pretence of their good practices and big prayers, but they missed the essence of the Gospel. We must accept the social, emotional, economic and political consequences of our choice to follow Jesus to the end, against the current.