"When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth" (Jn 16: 13).
People often say that we know very little about Mary or Joseph's life since the Bible tells us next to nothing about Jesus' s parents. Certainly the Faith of the Church and its ensuing piety are enlighten by the Sacred Scriptures, one of the privileged ways of knowing the Truth, on the condition that one interprets the texts correctly, in the analogy of the Faith and with the help of the Church (Acts 8: 31).
But Church History proves that the Holy Spirit uses other means to guide us to the Truth:
- Tradition or local traditions retain important elements of truth or piety which complete or enrich the Scripture (ex. the places and sacred traditions of the Holy Land, the Middle East, Mesopotamia - Edessa, Niniveh, Babylon, Ur, etc. - Egypt, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy - the house of Nazareth in Loretto - France and Spain).
- The Church liturgy is also an important place for finding truth or piety; as the saying goes, "Lex orandi, lex credendi", which stresses that the law of prayer is the law of faith (for instance the text of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple).
- The teaching of the Magisterium (the Pope and the Councils) also has an infallible charisma for guarding the sacred trust of the Faith and giving precision as to what actually constitutes authentic piety - by the highest dogma - as well as by the ordinary teachings of the Church's pastors on a general level (for instance the Marian catechesis of John Paul II).
- The invaluable experience of the saints, Fathers and Doctors of the Church, is another important element when seeking the Truth, since the Holy Spirit has given special light of guidance to them (i.e. the traditions passed down to us by the Fathers, or the opportunity of improving our Marian knowledge thanks to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Dominic, St. Louis de Montfort, etc.).
- The mystics, prophets - or other persons endowed by God with special charisma - have also participated in giving us a broader vision of the Church, by offering useful revelations that allow us to a better understanding of the Revelation (ex. St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Brigid of Sweden).
- Apparitions or messages of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints, constitute other sources of meditation and discovery of the Church (ex. the messages of Lourdes, of Rue du Bac, Paray-le-Monial, St. Faustina, etc.).
- Finally the relics (ex. the Shroud of Turin) or certain events (such as archeological findings - St. Peter's tomb under St. Peter Basilica - and scientific findings such as the Big Bang theory), can enter the sphere of our understanding the treasure of the Faith, contributing to enhance the vision we have of the source and basis of our faith.
This list of unequal importance is completed by highlighting the possibility open to everyone of having a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit in prayer, and shows us that although the Sacred Scriptures are a particularly essential locus for the rectitude and the fondamentals of the Faith, they are not the sole channel through which the Holy Spirit grants us access the Truth.
It goes without saying that the life and mystery of Mary and her Son can be approached in a more intense manner because this vast heritage of the Church - which has always been marked by the presence and constant action of the Holy Spirit - exists.
Thus, in order to remain Catholic any exegesis of the Sacred Scriptures as well as any interpretation of the signs from Heaven must be taken into account within this great unity, which is the sacred treasure of the Faith entrusted to Peter and his successors, and all that constitutes the authentic piety of the People of God.
The Holy Spirit, according to Christ's promise, guides us to the Truth, with the help of the discernment of the Church. Thanks to all the above elements of differing importance, the mystery of the Virgin Mary becomes clear...
