 The feast of Mater Admirabilis is a feast of Mary, the mother of God, portrayed in a fresco as a Jewish pregnant virgin sitting in the temple spinning with the Old Testament at her feet. It was painted on a wall in the convent of the Trinità dei Monti in Rome, just above the Spanish Steps, by Pauline Perdrau, a Frenchwoman who later became a Religious of the Sacred Heart.
The feast this year coincides in the University of San Diego with the week of events about border issues called “Strangers No Longer: A View from Both Sides.” We will have several valuable opportunities to consider issues between Mexico and the United States, starting with the movie tonight and continuing with the panel tomorrow night.
Perhaps we may be drawn to take Mater as a guide and companion with us this week since she herself became familiar with several border issues. However differently we imagine the conception of Jesus, according to our gospel account or otherwise, many of us might agree that she was invited to cross a border by agreeing to conceive a child without a human father. She and God became strangers no longer! Actually Joseph's misunderstanding meant negotiating another border. From then on, her plans, her life, were not her own. So like our neighbors south of the border! She might well help us view the world from the view of the poor!
To visit her cousin Elizabeth, she had to go from Nazareth in Galilee to a town in the hill country of Judah, commonly identified with Ain Karim, about five miles west of Jerusalem (Luke, Ch.1, note t, Jerusalem Bible). This meant she had to cross the border of Samaria at both ends. It is well-known that the Jews in her day hated the Samaritans (John, Ch. 4, note e, JB). To go to register in Bethlehem and to go to the temple in Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph crossed the borders of Samaria. And later on, after the birth of Jesus, they crossed the borders of Palestine and the Sinai Peninsula to go into Egypt. Their return to Nazareth meant another crossing of borders.
In this image, Mary, a Jewish pregnant virgin, is painted with the blond hair and fair skin typical of the women known by the artist, Pauline Perdrau, who was a Christian European. More borders! Mater, then, captures something of our own adventure this week, the bridging of cultures, countries, and religions, perhaps the reconciling of certain grievances and prejudices, maybe the beginnings of creating a common ground where we can stand side by side! As we choose to build communion and solidarity with the poor and oppressed who are our neighbors, we may be encouraged by the gospel assurance: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow” (Luke 1:35, JB).
Homily given at the University of San Diego, October 20, 2003 Annice Callahan rscj
Province of the United States
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