In the turbulent years of the fifth century, when heresies threatened to
tear apart the Church's understanding of Jesus and His Mother, St. Leo the
Great stood as an unwavering defender of divine truth. As Pope and Doctor of
the Church, Leo's love for the Blessed Virgin Mary flowed from his profound
grasp of the Incarnation. He understood that to diminish Mary's role as Theotokos,
the God-bearer, was to strike at the very heart of our redemption. In his
sermons and letters, Leo proclaimed with eloquent conviction that Mary's fiat,
her "yes" to God's will, opened the gates of salvation that Eve had
closed. His reverence for the Mother of God was not merely theological; it was
deeply personal and pastoral, reflecting the ancient Church's profound respect
for the woman who brought forth the Light of the World.
Though St. Leo lived centuries before the Rosary took its familiar form, his
spirituality breathed the same meditation on Christ's mysteries that the Rosary
embodies. When he preached on Christmas, on the Annunciation, on the nature of
Christ's birth from the Virgin, he was doing what every faithful soul does with
beads in hand, contemplating the sacred moments when heaven touched earth
through Mary's cooperation. Leo's writings reveal a heart that pondered these
mysteries deeply, turning them over with the same loving repetition that
characterizes our prayer of the Rosary. His was a mind that never tired of
exploring how the eternal Word became flesh in Mary's womb, how divinity was
clothed in humanity through her humble consent.
The great Pope's defense of Mary's perpetual virginity and her unique role in
salvation history laid the groundwork that would nourish Marian devotion for
centuries to come. In the Council of Chalcedon, through his famous Tome, Leo
helped the Church articulate the truth that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly
man, a mystery that could only be approached through Mary, the Virgin Mother.
His love for Our Lady was inseparable from his love for her Son. To honor Mary
was to honor Jesus Christ's humanity; to diminish her was to weaken our
understanding of the Incarnation itself. This theological clarity, born of deep
prayer and contemplation, shows us that devotion to Mary is never separate from
devotion to Jesus, but rather the surest path to Him.
St. Leo's pontificate was marked by his tireless efforts to protect the flock
entrusted to him, much as Mary protects her spiritual children. When Attila the
Hun threatened Rome, Leo went out to meet him, armed only with faith and
prayer. Legend tells us that Attila saw a vision of Saints Peter and Paul
flanking the Pope, but we might imagine Mary, too, accompanying her faithful
servant, for Leo had consistently placed himself and his Church under her
maternal care. His courage in the face of barbarian invasions mirrors Mary's
courage at the foot of the Cross, standing firm when others fled. This
connection between Mary's steadfastness and the Christian's call to faithful
witness runs throughout Leo's life and teaching.
As we honor St. Leo the Great today, Monday, November 10th, let us embrace his
profound reverence for the Blessed Mother as a model for our own devotion.
Though he did not pray the Rosary as we do, his constant meditation on the
mysteries of Christ's life, particularly those mysteries that involved Mary, shows
us the heart of what the Rosary is truly about. Let us take up our beads today
with renewed understanding that we are joining in that ancient practice of
pondering the wonders God worked through Mary. Through Leo's intercession and
Mary's guidance, may we grow in our appreciation of how the Mother of God leads
us always to her Son, and may our contemplation of the sacred mysteries bear
fruit in lives of greater holiness and courage.
©2025 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
