Mysterium lunae

The Fathers of the Church often compared the Church to the moon — all of her light is simply a reflection of the light of Christ himself. People often object to the need for the Church - why not simply go to Christ directly? The Fathers, the earliest teachers of the faith who had received the Tradition from the Apostles themselves, would simply answer that wherever the Church is present or speaks or acts it is Christ who is present and speaking and acting. This beautiful imagery can help us to understand our vocation as members of the Church. Our mission is to reflect Christ’s light to people in darkness – in other words, to people who, for many and varied reasons, are unable to see Christ.  Here’s how JP2 expressed it in relation to the Third Millennium:

“A new century, a new millennium are opening in the light of Christ. But not everyone can see this light. Ours is the wonderful and demanding task of becoming its ‘reflection’. This is the mysterium lunae, which was so much a part of the contemplation of the Fathers of the Church, who employed this image to show the Church’s dependence on Christ, the Sun whose light she reflects. It was a way of expressing what Christ himself said when he called himself the ‘light of the world’ (Jn 8:12) and asked his disciples to be ‘the light of the world’ (Mt 5:14).” — Novo millennio ineunte, 54

The saints, God’s holy ones, are each in their own unique way moons gently lighting the way for those in darkness.  And remember, anyone who is baptized is already numbered among God’s holy ones - so we are meant to be moons who light the way for others. Sunlight can at times be overwhelming and even painful to look at for those whose eyes are not able to handle its intensity…the moon is in a mysterious way more inviting, possessing its own unique beauty, and a promise of the dawn to come that fills the heart with a song of hope.

Whenever I am struggling for whatever reason, I try to pick up and read the life of a saint, even if just an anecdote or two.  It never fails that when I do I find something to encourage me in whatever trial, big or small, I am going through. The saints help me to remember who and where I am – a pilgrim on a long journey that others have made before me. Those who have already completed the journey are cheering me on and interceding for me for the grace to persevere the way they did…and in some small way I receive new strength for the journey. 

Mary, Star of the Third Millennium, pray for us!