Pentecost: A Year of Devotion to Mary

Greetings, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Today the Church celebrates the feast of Pentecost, the day that the Holy Spirit, like a rushing mighty wind, blew into the upper room, filling all the apostles with the ability to speak in languages previously unknown to them, allowing them to go to the ends of the earth preaching the Gospel message and baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

In my office is an icon of the day of Pentecost. On this icon, you see the apostles seated in the upper room with the Blessed Mother seated at the center. I have always found the symbolism of this icon to be fascinating: all the apostles in a semi-circle with the Blessed Mother at their center, and tongues of fire dancing above their heads. What is fascinating about this is the fact that it is Mary who is at the center of the great apostles of the Church. Why is that? Tradition has it that Mary, along with the Holy Spirit, brings unity to the Church.

I find it fitting that our diocese has undergone great change during the season of Easter and leading into Pentecost: a season of new birth, of new beginnings, and now into a season of launching. Since my ordination to the diaconate, my ministry has held a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In my most trying times, it has been through my devotion to the Blessed Mother that I have been able to seek comfort and solace in whatever I was going through. Because of that, as your Bishop Elect, I am hereby inviting you to join us in a year of devotion to Mary: the Mother of the Church, the Mother of us all. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham will be sending out Anglican Marian devotions and resources via Facebook and the diocesan website. Anglicanism has a rich history in England of devotion to Mary, specifically in Walsingham. However, we do recognize that there is a broad spectrum of beliefs concerning Mary's role in the Church and in each of our lives. We understand that not all may be comfortable in participating in this, and we respect the wishes of those who wish to abstain, but we invite anyone who is willing to please join us in this diocesan Year of Mary.

Throughout this year, we will be praying for the Blessed Mother's intercession to bring unity in our diocese, our communion, and all throughout the Church. We will pray for her guidance and strength as we live out our call to live a life that is centered in the Gospel, where our faith is anchored in Christ, with a desire of reaching the world and serving with compassion.

The Very Reverend Brent E. Whetstone Bishop Elect The Anglican Diocese of Erie