The Catholic Corner - Our Blessed Mother

With Mother’s Day upon us, our thoughts turn to our mothers, our grandmothers, and all the mother figures in our lives. During this month of May, the month dedicated to Mary, we should also remember our heavenly Mother. 

It was her “yes” to being the Mother of God that brought about the salvation of mankind.

“Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’” (Luke 1:38)

Mary is the model of humility. She teaches us to go to God in faith, willing to be used as His instrument. Her perfect example of love and charity is reflected in her eagerness to visit and assist her elderly cousin, and to share with her the immense blessing she has received.

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.’” (Luke 1:41-45)

We are called to model Mary’s behavior by charitably and joyfully bearing God’s love to those we encounter each day. 

Mary also experienced many sorrows during her lifetime, beginning with the prophecy of Simeon, “and you yourself a sword will pierce” (Luke 2:35).  Shortly after Jesus’ birth, the Holy Family had to flee into Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod and experienced the pain and anxiety of separation from loved ones and home. (Matthew 3:13-15).  When the child Jesus got separated from His parents for three days at the temple in Jerusalem, Mary experienced all the anguish and worry a mother could feel for her missing child.  (Luke 3:41-52)

Perhaps these early sorrows helped prepare her for the overwhelming grief she would experience witnessing the persecution, crucifixion and death of her Son. Mary’s courageous faith carried her through all her pain, sadness, and heartache. We can find inspiration and ask Mary to help increase our faith and spiritual courage especially during times of difficulty. 

Jesus gave us Mary as our mother while He hung on the cross.

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son’. Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’” (John 19:26-27)

As a loving Mother, Mary intercedes for us to her Divine Son. As she told the servants at the wedding feast at Cana, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5), she will always show us the surest way to follow her Son. And just as Jesus responds to Mary‘s request at the wedding feast, when we pray for Our Lady’s intercession, she is able to attain for us, through her Son, the grace we need for salvation. As we strive to grow closer to her Son, Jesus, our strongest ally is His Beloved Mother.  

Sponsored by the Sacred Heart Church, Stamford.