Mama Mary

Approximately four years ago with the help of a spiritual advisor, I began to become aware of Mary and her gentle motherly presence in my life, as I was at that time experiencing trials in my personal life which pushed the cracks in my spiritual life up to the surface creating havoc. I had always acknowledged Mary’s most amazing role in the history of the church in her fiat “Let it be done unto me according to Your Word” - her consent to be the mother of Jesus, raising Him with Joseph, and continuing to stand by His side unto His death on the cross; but beyond this I did not have much cause to ponder her importance to my life. One link to Mary I experienced as a child was in my reading of the story of Fatima. Fatima was one of the few books that my father hid away in one of the upper kitchen cupboards of our home, along with his bible, far out of the reach of many small prying hands. This story fascinated me; that Mary would visibly show herself to children and ask them to convey her message asking the world to turn away from sin and repent, and the consequences if they did not. This need I had for nurturing along with the story of Fatima gave me cause to further consider Mama Mary. At the urging of my spiritual advisor, I began to call out to Mary for help in times of need and began to pray the rosary intermittently. I noticed during this time that my emotions would level out and I experienced increased peace of heart and mind. One day, my advisor mentioned Marian Consecration. I had never heard of this consecration. I began investigating in my usual fashion of googling for information. I then happened to notice on the FORMED website Fr. Michael Gaitley’s book, 33 days to Morning Glory, and his retreat videos and workbook for Marian Consecration. Fr. Michael enthusiastically shared in his introduction video a quote from French Roman Catholic priest St. Louis de Montfort:  “Consecration to Mary is the quickest, the easiest, and the surest way to become a saint”.  I became immediately excited by his heart-felt recommendation, and intuitively felt the Holy Spirit drawing me to follow through with the commitment to immerse myself in this consecration. I began my 33 days on December 31, 2020, the Feast of the Holy Family and concluded it on February 2, 2021, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Mary now gently knocks on the door of my heart, asking me to enter hers, reminding me to call out for help with even the smallest tasks and concerns of my everyday life.  She requests that I give her all my small works of charity, prayers, almsgiving and fasting, and she who is sinless by God’s design, makes my offerings lovely, carrying them for me to Jesus who cannot refuse His mother anything. Marian Consecration signifies returning to the Cross of the Son, bringing the world and all its problems and sufferings to the pierced Heart of our Savior, and therefore back to the very source of redemption. Mary my mother, with her pure heart, nurtures, consoles, guides, and loves me perfectly unto Jesus.
 

Editor's Notes:

Gain free access to FORMED.ORG, an online Catholic media library, at:  https://formed.org/signup
33 Days to Morning Glory is also available in our parish library.