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15 May 2018

Mary Help of Christians (1)

The invocation 'Mary Help of Christians' was added to the Marian litany by Pope Pius V.  In 1571 the Ottoman empire was about to invade Europe and fearing defeat of the Christian rule, Pope Pius V asked Christians to pray and seek Mary's intercession.  The Turks were defeated at the Battle of Lepanto and attributing this victory to the intercession of Mary, Pope Pius V added the invocation 'Mary Help of Christians' to the litany.

Historians and non-Christians may view this battle and its outcome as pure military strategy or lack of it.  But I honestly wish that the title had a more inclusive origin.  To think that Mother Mary would be taking sides in a war, is quite odd for me.  No mother would want and wish for her children to fight, to seek one another's life.  In that sense, 'Mary, our help' sounds more inclusive and better.

Even if we as Christians wish to claim Mother Mary's support, as 'against' another group, then we ought to remember that it is only in circumstances when we are oppressed for purely unjust reasons.  And most importantly we appeal to Mary, not as an exclusive property of Christianity, but as Mother!

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