Return to The Reign of Mary No. 198
The Reign of Mary
No. 198: Letter from the Editor
November 30, 2025
First Sunday of Advent
Dear Friends in Our Lady,
Praised be Jesus and Mary. As we approach the end of another year, we cannot avoid commenting on the rapidity with which “Pope” Leo XIV has continued the destruction, waged relentlessly by his predecessor Francis, of what may still be left of Catholic belief. Everywhere the watchword is ecumenism. He declares that no one has the full truth, but that we are all on a journey, seeking truth. He states that “climate control” is the greatest crisis today. He tells Catholics that they cannot be pro-life if they support the death penalty. He celebrates the 60th anniversary of the heretical Vatican II document Nostra Aetate, on non-Christian religions, by calling members of numerous sects to Rome for another “Assisi moment.” Finally, he encapsulates his thinking by telling the European ecumenical committee that “In the Catholic Church, the synodal journey is ecumenical, just as the ecumenical journey is synodal.”
But for Catholics who love Our Blessed Mother, the “unkindest cut of all” was his declaration on Our Lady entitled Mater Populi Fidelis. This disgraceful document pretends to “clarify” the teaching of the Church on Marian devotion but instead ends up downgrading Our Lady’s role. Despite a few pious phrases, it is clear that the document is meant to pacify Protestants, who cannot abide the tender love of Our Blessed Mother cherished by Catholics. Again, all in the name of ecumenism.
In particular, the document takes aim at the titles of “Co-redemptrix” (which it calls “always inappropriate”) and “Mediatrix of all graces.” Instead, the document encourages Catholics to refer to Mary as a “helpful mother.” The document pretends to aim at precision, not wanting to claim that Mary redeemed us together with Christ, as though Catholics believed that there are two redeemers. Never mind that the Fathers of the Church all honor Mary with the title of the “New Eve” who by her humility and obedience repaired the harm caused by Eve through her disobedience. Truly, Jesus, the “New Adam,” united her sorrows to His redemptive act in a fitting reparation for the harm caused the human race by Adam and Eve. As Simeon prophesied, a sword of sorrow pierced her soul. Yet she bravely bore her sorrows, standing at the foot of the cross, for our salvation.
This embarrassment on the part of the neo-Pharisees of the Novus Ordo religion reminds us of the prophetic words of Father Faber, in his introduction to the book True Devotion, by St. Louis Marie de Montfort. The English priest lamented in 1862 that there are Catholics who wish “to make Mary so little of a Mary that Protestants may feel at ease about her.” Rather, let us never be ashamed of our devotion to the holy Mother of God, knowing that she always leads her devotees safely and securely to her divine Son.
As we perform our Advent sacrifices in anticipation of the celebration of the birth of our Redeemer at Christmas, let us give thanks to God for the precious gift of our Catholic Faith, especially in an age when so many millions are sunk in the depth of darkness. Let us especially spend this Advent in union with Mary. St. Louis Marie de Montfort assures us that she who brought Jesus into the world the first time, will also bring Him into our hearts. Remember: like the Magi and the Shepherds, all who find Jesus find Him “with Mary, His mother” (Matt., 2:11).
In Jesus and Mary,
Fr. Benedict Hughes, CMRI (Email)