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August 14, 2022
With the August 13th preseason opener inspiring Steeler fans to break out their Terrible Towels, it got me thinking about Myron Cope's clever title for this famous, little gold towel. Yet more than this, I've been contemplating the deeper meaning of Myron Cope's renowned entitling of the "Immaculate Reception,” called the greatest play in both Steelers and NFL history.
Nearly 50 years ago when that historic play took place at Three Rivers Stadium during the AFC playoffs against the Raiders, it miraculously landed the Steelers their first ever playoff win. It astounded me to learn, years later, what Franco Harris revealed in a recent interview to reporter Andrew Stockey on Pittsburgh's WTAE Action News 4. Harris unveiled a never before known story and secret behind the Immaculate Reception, that I, and maybe no one else, had ever heard before.
During that recent interview, Harris revealed something overlooked in the explanation behind the highly debated "Immaculate Reception" - a little known piece of history that’s seemingly been missed by millions of people for a half-century. Harris shares what was happening the very moment the football ricocheted toward him, when he miraculously caught the ball before it hit the ground scoring a 60-yard touchdown. As Harris relived the game on December 23rd, 1972, two days before Christmas, Franco tells Stockey what was also happening, off the field.
(https://www.wtae.com/article/franco-harris-steelers-immaculate-reception-50th-anniversary/40733731#)
Harris’ mother, Gina, was gathered with his siblings at her New Jersey home watching the game on TV. Harris stated, his mother knew something was wrong, “So she went and got one of her Italian albums and put one of her Italian albums on.” Harris said, ”To this day, my brothers and sisters verify this and say, yes, this happened, this is what was going on.” During the very moment of the Immaculate Reception Harris said his mother was playing “Ave Maria” on that Italian music album. When shortly thereafter, his siblings came running to her shouting, “Mom, the Steelers won!” Harris said his mother looked at them and said, “I know." Reporter Andrew Stockey ends the interview with Harris saying, what we all know in our hearts to be true, "Mother always knows best!"
No wonder, Gina, as a devoted mother to Franco, turned to the Mother of Jesus! Gina, allowed grace to supersede her own anxieties and at that moment, invited Mary to pray with and for her. The lyrics to the "Ave Maria" song are the beginning part of the centuries old, Hail Mary Prayer. Although prayed daily all over the world, it holds special devotion during Advent and Christmas.
(English translation)
Hail Mary, full of grace,
Mary, full of grace,
Mary, full of grace,
Hail, Hail, the Lord.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed,
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Thy womb, Jesus.
Hail Mary!
The “Ave Maria” is prayed or sung, asking the Mother of Jesus to go to Her Son, who in turn, as the one true mediator to God, intercedes for us to the Father. We sometimes forget, as we understand things by means of our humanity, that God is outside of time. From the beginning of the Church, Christians have asked for the intercession of the saints who have gone before them to heaven. Perhaps Franco's mom, sensing her son was in trouble (the Steelers were trailing the last thirty seconds of the game), thought of (Hebrews 12:1) and called upon Jesus’ Mother."Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us."
These holy men and women of heaven, who make up the “cloud of witnesses,” present our prayers to Jesus the Lamb (Revelation 5:8). It should come as no surprise that the Blessed Virgin Mary is our preeminent intercessor among all the angels and saints.
In fact, Mary’s sublime role in salvation history is to assume the role that was once played by the Ark of the Covenant, however to a much greater degree! Her body is consecrated and set apart to be the dwelling place of God. Like the golden Ark in the Holy of Holies, Mary is the sacred vessel where the Lord’s presence dwells among His people! Pope Benedict XVI, in his homily on the Assumption of Mary, August 15, 2011 said, "If Mary is the new Ark, it makes sense that her body would not experience corruption, but would be brought up into the heavenly Holy of Holies.”
Like Franco Harris's mother, Gina, as you grow in devotion to Jesus's Mother, you will find that Mary cannot remain indifferent to the material and spiritual distress of her children.
The Steelers will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Immaculate Reception during the 2022 season when they host the Raiders on Christmas Eve. I am sure, not only in Pittsburgh, but all across the whole world, people will be singing or praying the
“Ave Maria” for scripture tells us that,
"All Generations Shall Call Her Blessed"
(Luke 1:48)
She can help you as you cry out, “Ave Maria”!
