b'Theology of MaryMARY, MOTHEROF DIALOGUEMarianists assist the Blessed Mother on her mission of bringing Christ to IndiaBy Fr. Varghese Manooparampil, SM T These words help set the scene for the wedding and share concerns. According to Skanda Purana,he mother of Jesus was there. (John 2:1)one of 18 Hindu religious texts, There is no shadeat Cana; therefore, they are suitable for our dis- like a mother, no resort, no one to depend on like acussion of Marian devotion in India. Mother Mary is mother, no security and savior like mother, no otherhere today, just as she was at Cana. ever-giving fountain of life, and a childsimply hasThe word mother has a special connotation in thefaith in her; having faith in the divine Mother is ourIndian context. One ancient philosopher, Adi Shakara, greatest strength.wrote, There may be a bad son, but there can never Hindu religious texts emphasize goddesses as be a bad mother. Motherhood is not just a biological supernatural, powerful women among deities. Thesephenomenon; it is also the ability to shape, care, nurture, concepts take the Hindus closer to Mary, and theyoverwhelmingly accept Mary. Dr. Rani Thenickechelam, a close colleague of theMarianists, professor in the University of Daytonsprogram in India, and, by birth, a Hindu Brahmin, saysthat she is drawn to Mother Mary for three reasons: 1) Mother Mary is the personification of grace, goodness,and compassion.2) She is a divine mother, shakti, or power, whose qual-ities epitomize openness of heart to remove worries.3) She symbolizes enduring faith, and, in the obedienceof Gods plan, she brought forth the greatest blessingto humankind: Jesus Christ.Mother Mary has been received lovingly in India,just as Mary was received by Saint John the Apostle.Many churches are named after Mary, Mother of God,and shes honored with devotional practices that arepersonal, familial, and communitarian through novenasand pilgrimage feasts. As a symbol of love, Mary is encountered above allin the experience of prayer. Devotion to Mary helps tomake ones experience of Mary personal and concrete;it is born of grace, life, relationship, and personaldiscoveries. When I was growing up, I was fascinated by anMary Seat of Wisdom image of Mary in our parish church in which Mary4 Call 1.800.348.4732'