Mary, Star of Evangelization

Details: 07 May 2010

One of the most recent unofficial titles given to the Mother of God is “Mary, Star of Evangelization.”

During May, the Month of Mary, it is fitting for us to ponder how Mary serves as the perfect model not only of discipleship, but also of evangelization.

The image of Mary as Star of Evangelization was commissioned for an evangelization conference sponsored by the U.S. Bishops and held in Portland, Ore. in 2003. The image has several prominent features: Mary herself, the Star of Bethlehem, the hill on which she stands, and the multifaceted oval background. Mary is shown reading from Scripture. The visible verse reads, “She rose and went to the hill country,” symbolically depicting her first evangelizing journey when she visited her cousin Elizabeth to share the Good News of the Incarnation.

Mary is robed in the familiar turquoise veil associated with her 16th-Century Guadalupe appearance, complete with stars adorning the garment. The turquoise color in iconography is the color given the Holy Spirit, the principle agent of all evangelization. Her robe is rose-colored, identifying her also with God the Father, while God the Son is hidden within her womb. Her prayerful posture is indicative of the praise she gave—and continues to give—to the entire Trinity of Persons for the great things done for her, as well as in and through her.

The six-pointed Star of Bethlehem shines brilliantly as a backdrop for the image. Once Jesus is born, He Himself will become the “star” of Bethlehem and take front stage as Mary moves into the background. The thrice-shaded oval backdrop depicts our movement from darkness into light as we come to know Jesus through Mary. The hill over which she walks depicts both the “hill country” through which she traveled to proclaim her special grace to Elizabeth and Mount Zion, the symbolic mountain in Jerusalem transformed into heavenly glory by the grace of the cross on which Jesus died. Included in the icon are the familiar Greek letters representing Mary’s title Theotokos, or God-bearer.

Brother Claude Lane, OSB, the icon’s artist, summarizes the image: “This is a visitation icon. There are the three apparitions, or visitations, of Mary. She visits her cousin, she visits the people of America in an actual apparition, and now she is visiting us. The Daughter of Zion is made visible.” Mary, Star of Evangelization, is a visual model for us as one who carries Jesus within her and then shares her divine Son with the whole world. We are called to do the same.

A Prayer: O Mary, Star of Evangelization, intercede with your Son to bring about in each of us a renewed enthusiasm for our faith. Inspire in us the courage and zeal to live the Gospel and to bring Christ to everyone we meet. Open our hearts to the gift of the Holy Spirit, the agent of evangelization, and enable us to transform the world in the image of your Son. O Mary, Star of Evangelization, enlighten us with the radiance of your Son, walk with us in faith, strengthen us in hope, and unite us in love as we strive to become disciples in mission. We ask this through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

More information and a picture of the icon of Mary, Star of Evangelization, may be viewed at the website: www.archdpdx.org/icon/icon.html.