DAY 7: O CLEMENS

There were fourteen popes called Clement, the last of whom had a five year reign from 1769-1774, and in that brief time he suppressed the Society of Jesus (Jesuits)! Hardly very miId-tempered nor merciful and kind, one would say – unless one had a similar dislike for Jesuits! For this is what the word 'clement', which is hardly ever used these days – except perhaps to describe the weather – means: gentle and merciful in disposition, mild and compassionate. In particular, the word 'clement' tended to be used to describe someone who had jurisdiction and power over another, such as a judge or indeed, a legal advocate. So, it seems that having hailed Mary as our advocate, our helper and intercessor, she is also acclaimed for her gentleness and mildness of temperament in dealing with us, her wayward children. 

All of us will probably have experienced Mary's gentleness and compassion. In our times of need, in sorrow and distress, all Mary's children will run to their mother, to "Mama Mary" as the Filipino people call her, for in her clemency she always opens her arms wide to embrace us. As St Alphonsus Liguori said: “What safer refuge can we find than the compassionate heart of Mary? There the poor find a home, the sick a cure, the afflicted consolation, the doubtful counsel, and the abandoned help.” Mary's clemency is a reflection of the work of God's grace within her soul, for as Jesus says: "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36) Therefore, Mary, who, by her Immaculate Conception, is the Father's most perfect daughter and who has been fashioned by grace to be like our heavenly Father, is (among all creatures) most like God in her mercy, her gentleness, her clemency. Of all the Saints, therefore, we run to Mary first because we know that she will hear us, and console us, and be gentle with us. We run to Mary who, as our clement Mother, will restore joy to our hearts and put a smile on our lips. 

Therefore in our current pandemic, in our sadness and pain, in our isolation and grief, in our worries and doubts, this is the time to turn to Mary and dedicate our lives, our homes, and our nation to her.  

The Lord, in his mercy and wise providence, has planned that 2020 should be the year of England's Rededication to Our Lady. This weekend, as a community, we shall give ourselves anew to Mary as her Dowry, her own spiritual treasury. Bound to Mary in this special way, we pray that she will extend her clemency to the whole nation, to all our peers and contemporaries who do not yet know her. Mary is their mother too, for she is full of compassion, and she suffered with her Son as he was crucified and shed his precious blood for all peoples. Standing by the Cross, the clement Mother of God therefore pleads for mercy, and she asks her Son, who can never refuse her requests, to let his blood fall upon us so as to protect us from harm of both body and soul. Therefore, the psalmist says:

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you"! (Ps 51:12-13)

Let us, therefore, pray with joy to Mary, our clement Mother, resolving to be her true children!