October 11 marked a joyous time in the Diocese of St. Augustine as it celebrated the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality on the Feast Day of Our Lady of La Leche.
The diocese has always had a deep connection to Mary with the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche of Mission Nombre de Dios located in St. Augustine and hundreds of people flocked to the site to take part in the celebration.
Bishop Erik Pohlmeier led the procession across the grounds of Mission Nombre de Dios and served as celebrant for the Mass.
He remembered the excitement and anticipation he felt when he first saw the jubilee year calendar sent out by the Vatican a year ago.
“We have celebrated jubilees for families, healthcare workers, the youth, priests and deacons, but I couldn’t believe it when I saw on the calendar that not only would there be a jubilee of Marian spirituality, but it was scheduled for Oct. 11, so immediately we began to look ahead,” he said. “Now, we celebrate not only this patronage, but we truly celebrate it with the whole church.”
Attendees processed over the bridge at Mission Nombre de Dios and into the church where they laid flowers at the altar to honor the Holy Mother, as each aspect of the day was centered around the goal of saying “yes” to Mary and drawing closer to Jesus Christ as a result, which is what every person who attended the event was in search of.
“We have a mother who is able to speak on our behalf and to speak to us,” he said. “A mother who we can come before and kneel, offering flowers and be taught as she whispers into our ears the love of Jesus.”
Sister Catherine Nazaret, a member of the Sisters of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, provided inspiring words on Mary’s maternity while the flowers were being offered.
“The days of hope that mark our jubilee are easily understood in light of Mary, as we have long taught in our spirituality, that she who fulfilled the plan of God in her life already occupies her place in heaven and is our sign of hope,” he said.
The diocesan reconsecration to Jesus through Mary was a major moment during the day as many Catholics across the diocese prepared for the moment by taking part in a 33-day prayer journey that started in September.
According to the bishop, the church teaches that what it means to be part of the church God gives to us, is to situate Mary as an important part in understanding the plan of God and the desire of God to gather his children to himself.
During his homily, he spoke about some of the quotes expressed during the Vatican’s vigil held as part of its celebration of the jubilee. The quotes were taken from the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, also known as Lumen Gentium.
One of the phrases describes Mary as an example of the superabundance of the merits of Christ.
“We could probably translate that into more common language and just say it’s God showing off, which is the idea of the superabundance of God,” he said. “God didn’t have to do it that way, but God does it that way to reflect the beauty of the God who creates all of the universe to give us Mary, the one who tells us, “my soul glorifies the Lord,” and the one who best responded to the plan of God in her life. Mary is not in any way in competition with her son, but she is a reflection of this superabundance of God.”
A rosary was prayed by all those in attendance prior to the start of Mass.
“It is beautiful to see the small children who move our hearts so fully, but we should also know that how ever old we might be, Mary sees us like that, as the little kid just doing the best we can and loving us even more for all of those ways we need assistance,” he said.
Photos by Fran Ruchalski
