Introduction

What is keeping you from having a real devotion to Mary? Perhaps you cant even
imagine what it would look like. Maybe the thought of it brings to mind your
grandparents praying the Rosary, or their impressive stash of Marian religious items
that would qualify them for an upcoming episode of Hoarders. Does your understanding
of Catholic teaching concerning Mary stand in the way of your drawing closer to her?
Maybe you would ask why Marian devotion even matters, since you seem to be doing
just fine with her Son!

What if I told you that I am certain Jesus wants you to know His Mother? What if I knew
that for you to be the best version of yourself, you would need to know and love Mary?

That seems a bit bold, but I have to say that the phrase go big or go home may apply
for us here. We all put forth a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears for things that have
little significance, but I think you would agree that our eternal destiny is of great
significance. Therefore, if devotion to Mary just might bring us closer to Christ, dont we
owe it to ourselves to take a closer look? After all, why should we hold off in giving all
we can to Christ through Mary? The payoff is greater than any treasure the world can
offer, and Mary certainly cares for us far more than the countless infomercial marketers
we see on television every night. Our Blessed Mother desires what is truly good for
usour intimate relationship with her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, I want to offer you a chance to learn a bit more about Mary, because I just know
that you will not regret fostering a devotion with someone Jesus intentionally chose not
only as His own Mother, but ours as well! If you would just walk alongside me on this
journey, I am confident you will see the face of the Savior of the world a bit more richly
through the eyes of His Mother Mary.

Chapter 1: Come and See

Look at the middle line
When I was learning how to drive, my instructor drilled into me the importance of not
crossing the center line. Meanwhile, my wife says I must drive by Braille, as the car hits
the speed bumps separating us from the edge of the road. After all these years behind
the wheel, I still have to work on staying balanced. If I veer too far to one side of the
road I will end up in the line of oncoming traffic, and if I overcorrect too far in the other
direction I will end up in a ditch.

Just as balance is important when it comes to driving, it is also the key to a healthy
Christian spirituality. We dont want to have extremes in spirituality, either to the left
(oncoming traffic) or to the right (the ditch). Yet, as is the case with driving, if we stop
paying attention to our spiritual life, we will tend to meander to one side or the other.

While spirituality isnt about extremes, we cant confuse balance with mediocrity. We
must seek the holiness of Christ, but the way to get there isnt found in judging others
who are not striving towards perfection as we are, nor is it in placing ourselves into a
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joyless program that leads to self-loathing. God wants us to come and see the beauty of
who He is, and this vision of love can and will have a dramatic impact on how we live.

As we approach Jesus, most especially in the Eucharistboth in the celebration of the

Mass and in private Eucharistic adorationand embark upon a robust Christian life, we
quickly come to realize that balance is essential. We find this spiritual balance in Our
Lady, who assists us in knowing the Son, opening ourselves to the Spirit, and obeying
the Father. Mary in Church tradition is called the star of the sea, as she safely guides
us toward our heavenly destination. Mary not only wants us to arrive alive, but she
wants us to fully enjoy the journey!

Knowing the Son

Mary knows Jesus better than any other person in history. Not only is she a committed
follower of Jesus, but she is also His Mother. Not only is she devoted to the mission of
her Son, but she is also the Mother of the Churchincluding you and me! Mary knows
her Son and wants us to know Him better than we do right now, so that we can be
ambassadors of His love and mercy in the world.

What if your goal were to win a gold medal in the Olympics? You would certainly train in
your sport with singular dedication. If you discovered that a certain exercise could
improve your chances of winning the gold, would you work it into your training regimen?
Of course you would!

Isnt it true that certain coaches produce more gold medalists than others? Serious
athletes want those coaches! Mary, in knowing Jesus so well has much to share with
us as our spiritual coach. She offers us motherly wisdom to build upon our own unique
gifts and talents, so that we can be the saint God calls us to be.

Open to the Spirit

Marys example of openness to the Holy Spirit is one that we must follow. While Marys
conceiving the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit (known as the Annunciation)
is unique in salvation history, you and I must nonetheless be willing to let the Holy Spirit
also do a new work in us.

Receptivity and vulnerability are key ingredients when it comes to our spiritual growth.
The Holy Spirit is not some ethereal wisp of warm fuzziness that may or may not come
upon you depending on how you might feel at the moment. The Spirit of God is a
Person and we get the chance to know Him. We can accept the gentle invitation to be
like Our Lady and let the Spirit move in us, bringing forth something beautiful in us, or
we can resist the Holy Spirits work in us, leaving us stagnant in our spiritual life.

Obeying the Father

Our Lady wants for us to be the saint that we are called to be! If we follow her lead in
our devotion to her Son and our docility to the Spirit, we will certainly want to imitate
here obedience to the Father. The way that Jesus reveals the Father should in fact give

us much hope. He is a Father who accepts and forgives, as we hear in the story of the
Prodigal Son (see Luke 15:11-32).

He is a Father who helps us when we fall. He provides for each one of us with even
more concern than He does the flowers of the field and the birds of the air. The Father
has a true and committed love for His children, remaining faithful even when we they
are unfaithful. We see this in the witness of the prophet Hoseas difficult marriage, which
symbolizes Gods steadfast commitment to His wayward people. We will obey the
Father if we love the Father. Marys life attests to this truth, and she is the model for us
to follow!

Look at the problem

We have been trained through the media and current trends to believe that average is
great. Our culture has set its sights upon the easily attainable by lowering its standards
so that more people can be affirmed for mediocrity. This is found even in youth sports,
where everyone is given a participation award instead of specially honoring the best
player.

While its surely good to value everyone, I wonder if we are also afraid of acknowledging
excellence. We long for fulfillment, but if we dont realize we are called to greatness we
will readily settle for second best or something that makes us simply feel good. This

tickling of our fancy might be initially appealing and require less effort, but it will never
satisfy our deepest longings.
Compare this societal trend to be average with the witness of Mary. Even though she
has more reason to boast of spiritual excellence, Mary chooses to approach the
message of the angel at the Annunciation with singular humility as she said yes to
Gods great plans for her (see Luke 1:26-38). This humble act in fact changed the world.

Some may have trouble with Marian teachings because they seem so above average
and we cant imagine what spectacular devotion to God could look like. So rather than
pursue the satisfaction found in complete gift of self to the Father, we align ourselves
with something easier. This can only lead to a mediocre, lukewarm spirituality.

Look at your senses

Back in the Garden of Eden, Eve saw that the fruit was good to eat. Even though she
knew that it was wrong to eat the forbidden fruit, she nonetheless chose to believe the
lies of the serpent and ignore the Word of God. But why did she disobey God?

The temptation to be like God (see Genesis 3:5) was too enticing to resist. To be ones
final authority, to be the master and commander of what our next step will be, to be
finally in the know about the hidden things of God all entered Eves mind. She stepped
forward to taste the fruit of something that she foolishly thought was going to satisfy her.

The tragedy is that Adam stood right next to her and didnt say a word. He didnt shout
out to Eve, reminding her of Gods Word, nor did he step forward and intervene by
resisting the serpent physically. He remained silent and watched his bride succumb to
mankinds mortal enemy. They both remained unsatisfied.

St. Paul understood that Jesus is the New Adam (see Romans 5:12-21), and several
early Church Fathers recognized that Mary is the New Eve.Why? Because the
disobedience of Adam and Eve are directly countered by the obedience of Jesus and
Mary.

While Eve listened to the lie and allowed pride and disordered desire to motivate her
actions, Mary listened to God and allowed humility and well-ordered desire to motivate
her actions, even as she stood at the foot of the Cross offering her maternal heart for
the salvation of every human person. Mary rejected the allure of disordered desire by
remaining silent when misunderstood, and by serving her cousin Elizabeth instead of
wishing to be served. Mary loved the Lord and unravels the knot of Eves disobedience
with her heroic obedience. Her humility and obedience are qualities we need in our life.
The world does not understand these virtues, but it is in dire need of them.

Look at the forest instead of the trees

Sometimes we can fixate on one person, team, or movement as the be all and end
all. For example, when I was a little kid you were either a Steelers fan or a Cowboys

fan. Of course the Steelers were the best as far as I was concerned, with Terry
Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, Mel Blount, and the rest of the gang repeatedly winning Super
Bowl championships. When I was a little older, Michael Jordan captured my
imagination as he dominated the basketball world.

Everyone sets out to be the best of the best. After all, nobody strives for the bronze
medal! I remember watching speed skater Eric Heiden race to Olympic glory 1980, and
of course weve all been amazed by Michael Phelps and his unprecedented success in
swimming.

While these athletes are amazing in and of themselves, it took the team, the sport, the
trainers, and even the media to make their successes known and even possible. What
was at one time natural skill was honed and crafted into unparalleled excellence. Im
amazed that Tiger Woods still has someone coaching him on his swing. What! Isnt he
beyond that?

Just as behind all great athletes there are others who facilitated their success, we must
recall as we go about our lives that we are not in this alone. Further, God gives each of
us unique gifts and talents and then invites all of us to a glorious prize that is almost
beyond our wildest dreams! Our collaborative effort in striving toward this prizenothing
less than eternal life with God!is far more important than winning the World Series,
the Stanley Cup, or Lombardi Trophy.

We cannot become saints in our day and age on our own, without divine assistance.
Further, God expects us to draw closer to Him through the help of those around us. In
addition to our own prayers and reception of the sacraments, we can count on the
prayers of our spiritual family--the Church in heaven and on earthto assist us on this
amazing journey home to our heavenly Father.

God calls us to be great, but we really have no idea of the greatness that lies open
before us. The examples of the saints, including contemporary saints like Pope John
Paul II and Mother Teresa, show us that the path to heroic virtue is different for every
person. No two stories are exactly the same. This should be a great encouragement to
us!

I will never be able to slam dunk a basketball, golf on the PGA tour, or play for the
Steelers, but in Christ, I am truly unstoppable. In fact, the life given completely to Jesus
has the potential for a level of greatness that the world can neither recognize nor
understand. We can only respond in praise, gratitude, and awe to Gods work in us (see
Philippians 4:13).

Now we must allow the Mother of Jesus to gather around us the best pit crew, the best
coaching staff of saints if you will, to help us respond to this once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity to become saints. We do well to invite Our Lady to manage our spiritual life,
challenge our mediocrity, and give us the motherly pep talks that we occasionally need.

When we consider greatness in the Kingdom of God, we are not talking about trophies
or worldly endorsements. Rather, Christian greatness necessarily entails sanctity, which
in some sense requires us to decrease so that the Lord may increase in us (see John
3:30; Galatians 2:20). We are talking about being content with a hiddenness and
humility that the world will not understand. Greatness in Christ involves detachment
from some things the world considers important, and Mary is ready to help us!

Look around
The people whom we meet on a daily basis are so often enamored with trivial issues.
Their lives are centered more upon what causes them anxiety than on what could bring
satisfaction. The world promises happiness if we could just have enough money,
popularity, and fame, but in the end, the world isnt able to deliver on its promises.

The flesh always seeks gratification, but weve all experienced that giving in to a little
pleasure doesnt truly satisfy us. Instead, it simply inclines us to want even more. This
state of affairs has created a generation consumed by depression and self-loathing,
unable to find peace in their pursuit of pleasure.

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Look around and ask yourself if you see people who are truly happy, as opposed to
those who, in the words of Henry David Thoreau, are leading lives of quiet
desperation. Acquiring more stuff, longing for more popularity, satisfying our whims
and appetites--this is the path the world promotes. And yet, when we step back and
examine this path, does it really look that appealing? Why do we continue to walk down
this road when deep down we know that its a dead end?
I recently attended a youth conference in Denver and heard witness talks given by the
teens in leadership. One high school senior shared that by the end of her junior year, all
of her friends were frequenting the party scene, and she was tempted to join them.
When it was just one or two of her classmates going to the parties, it wasnt that big of a
deal. But when it was all of her friends, then it became very hard to say no.

Then she heard a friend discuss a party shed been to the night before. She was
extremely drunk and had allowed multiple guys to use her. As the friend shared this
sequence of events, she laughed and pretended that it was the best time ever.

The young lady giving the witness talk realized that it was all a lie. She came to see that
the constant quest for self-gratification that consumed her peer was not for her, because
it didnt lead to real happiness. She wanted something that satisfied, and finally
understood it was Jesus all along for whom she most longed.

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When we get to this place of clarity we are well on our way to sanctity. The saints didnt
have an easy life, but they were filled with great joy in knowing each moment was a gift
from Jesus and to Jesus. Mary shows us how to take the sufferings, the joys, the
glorious moments, and the luminous ones and let Christ make something beautiful out
of them.
Come and see
Jesus calls you and me to take a different path. The journey isnt going to be easy. In
fact, we can expect to suffer as we travel this narrow road (see Matthew 7:13-14). The
irony is that this narrow road has room on it for all of us! This way does not promise us
fame or fortune, but it does entail a cross that we must carry daily as followers of Jesus.

There isnt any room for serving our own selfish desires for those who set out on this
journey of love. Come and See that Jesus is not going to treat you in a way that takes
away your personal dignity. Come and See that Jesus keeps His promises: He is not
going to lead you astray, promise you something that will not in fact be given, or offer
you a sense of intimacy that does not take away your loneliness.

You are invited to come and see Jesus, who loves you in your mess, who wants you
even though youve tried to be satisfied by everything the world has dangled before you.
Come and see that you are not alone, that youre not orphaned or unloved. Come and
see that you are chosen by God to exist here and now, and that He has an authentic
and important plan specifically for you.

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Come and see that you will be prepared for the task you are given. There isnt room on
this journey for utopian highs or empty phrases and clichs, because the consequences
of reaching our destination are real and eternal.

Come and see that you are more than just a blue ribbon, more than just a game won or
an outward appearance. Come and see that you were made to be truly satisfied and
only Jesus is the way, the truth and the life can fully satisfy the longing in your heart.

You can choose to walk away. You can absolutely come and see and then go
somewhere else, but I have a strong suspicion that you wont leave once you encounter
the embodiment of love.

Come and see that you were made for more than going through the motions, more than
a temporal high, a momentary gratification, or a quick fix. You were made to be a saint,
and God, having loved you in all of your sin, invites you to come and see how beautiful
He is. You and I have been given the same Mother as Jesus. The odds are ever in our
favor!

Looking good
One day, you may be surprised to find that your friends see a change in you that can
only be explained because of this new path on which you are traveling. Often the

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surprise comes when He invites us to become a picture of Him to those within our
reach.

Come and see, you can say to friends who are walking the old paths youve left
behind. Let them come and see what God has done in and through you.
Whether its our words or our actionsor both--we have something to say when we find
our satisfaction in Jesus. Lets start by listening to what the Scriptures and the Church
have to say about Mary, who truly found satisfaction in the Lord and wants to assist us
on our journey toward Him.

But while in the most Blessed Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection
whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle, the faithful still strive to conquer sin and
increase in holiness. And so they turn their eyes to Mary: in her, the Church is already
the all-holy.1

Chapter 2: Old Testament Types of Mary

In the introduction I referred to Mary as the New Eve. This is a title of Our Lady used
by the Church Fathers in the first centuries of the Church, and it continues to resonate
with those who meditate on Marys role in the life of Christians today. I hope to further
discuss how Marys role is foreshadowed by Eve and other noteworthy women in the

Catechism of the Catholic Church (hereafter, CCC), 829, footnote omitted.

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Old Testament. This foreshadowing is known as typology, and the Old Testament
figure, such as Eve, is called a type:

The Church, as early as apostolic times, and then constantly in her Tradition, has
illuminated the unity of the divine plan in the two Testaments through typology, which
discerns in Gods works of the Old Covenant prefigurations of what he accomplished in
the fullness of time in the person of his incarnate Son.2
And further: Typology indicates the dynamic movement toward the fulfillment of the
divine plan when God [will] be everything to everyone.3

In the early pages of the Old Testament, we find a picture of what life was like before
the Fall. This is an important story for us. Adam and Eve are in the Garden of Eden and
they are in right relationship, or communion, with God and with one another.

Many theologians speak of the preternatural gifts our first parents had in light of what we
know they lost as a result of original sin. So, lets define a few terms. First, Adam and
Eve are in a state of original justice. There is no disconnect between their will
(choices) and emotions (desires). There is no such thing as concupiscence, which is the
tendency you and I have to sin because of our fallen human nature. For this reason,
they have the gift of integrity, a sense of not being divided within themselves.

2
3

CCC 128, footnote omitted.

CCC. 130, quoting 1 Corinthians 15:28.

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Adam and Eve also have the preternatural gift of immortality, which is a gift from God
allowing the body to continue in time without decay. Yet another gift is the infusion of
knowledge, as is seen in Adams ability to name all living creatures and retain the
information.

Original sin is the act of Adam and Eve doing the only thing they were instructed not to
do: eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam, representing all of
humanity, stands by as Eve submits to the classic temptations, often described as the
lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life.4 In other words, she was
attracted by the fruit itself as well as the empty promise that it would make her wise.

Eve listens to the hiss of the serpent and she willingly eats the forbidden fruit. She is not
forced to sin, but rather deliberately chooses to violate Gods command. And then Adam
does the same.

The result of the Fall is that Adam and Eve die spiritually. The original justice is now
undone because they do to themselves, to each other, and to their relationship that
which should not have been done. The cardinal virtue of justice is to give to God and
man that which they are due. Adam and Eve violated justice by their sin.

Cf. CCC 377, 2514.

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Adam and Eve also lost the preternatural gifts, because their nature is now wounded.
They will physically die, the infused knowledge is gone, and they now struggle with
concupiscence. While still made in Gods image, Adam and Eve are now impaired in
their ability to know, love and serve God. Original Sin lost for them the likeness of
Godthe grace of being children of God. Baptism restores this grace which was lost by
our first parents. (A common mistake, we are not born in the likeness of God. That was
lost by original sin. See for example CCC 734, 2566).

Further, whenever we sin, we are damaging the life of charity in us. Sin negatively
affects how we relate to ourselves, one another, and God. The Lord has done
everything to pour grace back into our lives so that we can be the men and woman God
wants us to be. We need grace, especially since we are all born in a state of original
sin. We need grace to restore our friendship with God and become the men and
women we were created to be.

Thats what the sacraments do: They give grace. Think of the way in which we speak
about Our Lady: She is full of grace (Luke 1:28). Jesus, who is called by St. Paul the
New Adam, fights for His bride the Church in a way that Adam did not fight for Eve.
Jesus undoes the sin of Adam through His obedience to God the Father. The New
Adam sacrifices, protects, guards, and honors what has been entrusted to Him, thereby
succeeding where the first Adam failed. The Church from the earliest times naturally

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saw Mary as the New Eve, who counters the submission to the serpent with the
submission to the Spirit!

Another Old Testament type of Mary is Queen Esther. The story of Esther takes place
during a difficult time in Israels history, when the chosen people were subject to the
power of the King of Persia. The most beautiful women would be offered to the King as
his concubines. Out of all the women, The King chose the Israelite Esther not simply be
one of many women, but to be the Queen. She was beautiful and wise, and she held a
unique position in the royal court.

Then one of her kinsmen named Mordecai exposed an assassination plot against the
King which was able to be diverted. Around the same time, a military leader named
Haman felt he was being slighted when Mordecai did not show him reverence, and as a
result he devised a plan to destroy the Hebrew people. Queen Esther was made aware
of this evil scheme. She boldly approached the King and asked him if he recalled the
faithful one who served him by alerting him of the potential assassination. She
mentioned that it would be a great thing to show him honor. In the process, Haman was
shown to be treacherous and the end result was that justice prevailed, as Esthers
advocacy led to the rescue of her people.

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Queen Esthers mediation and advocacy are also attributes of the Blessed Virgin that
the Church has specifically highlighted at the Second Vatican Council (1962-65).5 Mary
is called the Mediatrix and Advocate because in an even more powerful way she fights
for her people and speaks on their behalf. Mary offers her maternal heart so that we can
be saved from the evil plot of the enemy. The qualities we value in Queen Esther we
also find in Mary.

In fact, as we look at the Old Testament matriarchs and even great leaders like Judith,
we continually discover heroic qualities that reach their fulfillment in the Blessed Mother.
Her Son crushes the head of Satan. This victory over the Evil One who seeks our
destruction fulfills the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 and typologically completes the valiant
and heroic act of Judith, who cuts off the head of the Assyrian enemy Holofernes.

Mary is the embodiment of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. She is also the faithful
bride, as opposed to the unfaithful bride of Hosea. In great women like Sarah,
Rebekah, Rachel, and Ruth, we see catch glimpses of Mary. When we contemplate
prominent Old Testament women we can often discern how Mary brings to fulfillment all
the good these women accomplished, or even at times how she stands in opposition to
the things they did wrong.

See Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, no. 62 (November 21, 1964).

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For example, when Sarah heard she would have a child in her later years, she laughs in
disbelief, which is why her son is named Isaac. Yet we can say that Mary gives a better
response to the heavenly message of life in a seemingly impossible situation. As
Abraham is the father of faith, we see Mary as the mother of faith. Remember, when we
call Mary the New Eve we arent saying she is unfaithful like Eve. Rather, she is
undoing Eves knot of disobedience with her own obedience. This is a recurring theme
in the Old Testament. As Lots wife looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt, Mary
did not look back, but always said yes in cooperating with her Sons saving work in a
singular way.

The images or types of Mary in the Old Testament are not limited to human persons.
For example, the fertile, unspoiled soil of Eden points to Marys purity in nurturing the
infant Jesus in her womb. Many have seen Mary as the New Ark of the Covenant. As
the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament represented Gods presence, Mary in a
singular way represents and carries Gods presence, since she carried within her womb
for nine months the Second Person of the Trinity made flesh.

The types of Mary are beautiful to reflect upon for a thriving spirituality because they
help us realize that Gods plan can counter the oppositions we face and the seemingly
impossible situations we encounter in our own lives.

Chapter 3: Mary in the New Testament

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The New Testament has only a few passages that explicitly mention the Blessed
Mother. There are the accounts of Jesus birth and infancy in Luke and Matthew, the
Visitation and the Wedding of Cana, a brief mention of Marys presence at the cross and
Pentecost, and only one nod to Our Lady by St. Paul in Galatians. St. John speaks of
the woman in the Book of Revelation, which most theologians relate to both Mary as
well as the Church.

The placement of these Marian texts and the words used in reference to Mary are very
significant. For example, when St. John writes of the last words of Christ at Golgotha,
we find Jesus telling Mary, Woman, behold, your son (John 19:26). Why this word
woman? It is meant to make listeners call to mind the first woman, Eve. We find this
allusion elsewhere in St. Johns writings. For example, we hear about the woman
clothed with the stars who is battling the great dragon in Revelation 12. This calls to
mind the prophecy in Genesis 3, involving the conflict between Satan and the offspring
of the woman.

Reading Scripture in this manner is a very important part of Catholic tradition. In fact,
the Church reminds us of the importance of the content and unity of the faith, the
analogy of faith, and the living tradition of the whole Church.6 In other words, the
interpretive voice of the Church wants to ensure that we understand scriptural passages
within the larger context of Gods plan of salvation for all men and women.

CCC 111-14.

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Catholic devotion to Our Lady is deeply rooted in the New Testament accounts of the
Mother of God. The Joyful mysteries of the Rosary in a particular way invite us to see
Christs coming into the world through the eyes of His mother.

Mary says yes to the mystery of the Annunciation and then immediately goes on a
journey to serve her cousin Elizabeth. She brings to her kinswoman the very presence
of Christ within her virginal womb. In Matthew 2, the wise men from the East find Mary
with her newborn Son. When Joseph and Our Lady bring the Child in to the Temple,
they hear Simeons prophecy.

We can think of it like this: Marys yes to the call God had for her should encourage us
to bravely accept the work He has for us. When she brings Christ to Elizabeth we
contemplate the beauty of Christ in acts of service. In the presentation of Jesus in the
Temple, the Word of God is fulfilled. We find great joy and insight in their faithful
pilgrimage to the house of God.

In all of these scenes, we learn how to imitate Jesus most faithful disciple, Mary. When
people meet us do they catch a glimpse of Our Lady? Yet, Mary wants to teach us how
to follow her Son at the beginning, middle, and end of our personal journey home to
God. Remember, the dragon goes to wage war against the woman and the rest of her

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children, who are defined as those who keep Gods commandments and bear witness
to Jesus (Revelation 12:17). As Christians we become those children!

Even St. Pauls short reference to Mary, when he writes that Gods Son was born of a
woman (Galatians 4:4), is significant, because it points to the reality of the
IncarnationGod truly became one of us in the person of Jesus, How do we know?
Because he was born of a woman!

The Blessed Mother appears at every key point in the Saviors life. She said yes to His
conception, becoming a willing vessel for His coming to us. Mary is there gazing upon
the Lord at His birth, which foreshadows our own adoration of Jesus, especially in the
Blessed Sacrament. Mary is present in Jesus hidden years, listening and knowing her
child better than any other human (see Luke 2:19, 51).

Mary is the greatest disciple of Jesus. She is the initiator of His first miracle at the
wedding feast of Cana. Jesus says that those who are truly blessed, who are His
brothers and sisters, are those who follow Him and put into practice His teachings.
Some might consider Jesus words to be a denigration of His mother, but actually it was
an amazing insight into Our Ladys faith. How so? Because as great as her biological
gift in giving birth to Jesus was, even greater was her ongoing, living belief in His saving
work.

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In other words, Mary knew all about the miraculous qualities of her Son. She believed in
His call, trusted the Fathers plan, and submitted to the Spirit for the sake of all her
spiritual children. She didnt simply rest on her credentials at Jesus biological mother.

How easy it might be for us to wish we were related to Jesus by blood, as if that would
somehow make us closer to Jesus than merely His friend. Yet the truth is that the
friendship Jesus extends to us is at the same time familial, as we truly become new
creations--His brothers and sisters!when we are buried with Him at Baptism. Through
Him we can now approach God and call him Abba, Our Father.

The way of Mary, and surely the way of the New Testament, is to focus our attention on
Jesus and His work of saving us. In the next chapter, we will take a closer look at how
the Churchs teachings on Our Lady actually draw us more deeply into the person and
mystery of Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

Chapter 4: Marian Dogmas and How They Relate to Us

To become saints we must be Marian

There are four key attributes of the Blessed Mother that we will consider in this chapter.
As we proceed, we will not only unpack the Churchs dogmatic teachings about Mary,
but also show what these teachings have to do with our becoming the saints that God
from all eternity has called us to be.

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We will look at Mary as Theotokos, or the God-bearer, and what her divine maternity
teaches us about the call to sacrifice. We will consider Mary as the Ever-Virgin, which
expresses her willingness to serve God with her body and soul. Third, we will examine
Marys Immaculately Conception and what that teaches us about her participation in the
mediation of her Son. Finally, we will turn to Marys Assumption into heaven, where she
now reigns as our queen and advocate.

Theotokos: What is the teaching?

The Church teaches that Mary is the Mother of God. This teaching about Mary is so
important because it safeguards an important truth about the identity of Jesus Christ.
Lets take a closer look:

Jesus is one Person, and this Person is fully God and fully man. The opening chapter of
the Acts of the Apostles gives us a picture of the early Church. In that account, Mary is
present with Jesus disciples in the Upper Room when the Spirit comes upon them. We
also know from the Gospel of John that Mary is closely associated with the Beloved
Disciple, and we easily see in Scripture that Mary is mother. But why do we
emphatically profess that she is Mother of God?

Because Mary gives birth to a Person, not a nature.

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In 431 A.D., the Church held a Council in Ephesus which was convened for the purpose
of dealing with a Church leader named Nestorius and his misunderstanding of the
Person of Christ. Nestorius was willing to call Mary the Christotokos (Christ bearer), but
he could not accept that she was the Mother of God, or Theotokos, because in his view
a created being could not give birth to the Creator.

The Council of Ephesus definitively ended this debate by confirming that Jesus is one
person with two natures: human and divine. The Son of God really did bleed, really did
suffer, and really did die. He is like us in all things except sin (cf. Heb. 4:15).

Called in the Gospels the mother of Jesus, Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the
prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as the mother of my Lord.
In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her
Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Fathers eternal Son, the second
person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly Mother of
God (Theotokos).7

Called to sacrifice
Sacrifice is a primary attribute of Mary because she willingly lays upon the altar her
reputation, her dreams, and her earthly desires. Her entire life is a loving sacrifice to
Godfrom her going to help her cousin Elizabeth to her standing at the foot of the

CCC 495, footnotes omitted.

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Cross as her Son died on the Cross for us. She was willing to sacrifice everything so
that you and I can be the beneficiaries of her Sons saving work. She is a true Mother
and the child she delivers has delivered us. She is now our Mother and with her
motherly heart she labors for our deliverance from sins.

What can I do?

All of us are called to sacrifice. Yet when we offer our sins and difficulties, confidently
placing them into the hands of Jesus, they can become redemptive. Our own sacrifices,
when united to Jesus sacrifice, can benefit others in this life as well as the souls in
Purgatory. We must be sacrificial because to sacrifice is to be like Jesus and to be like
Our Lady.

Ever Virgin: What is the teaching?

Mary is a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus. The biblical references that
speak of Jesus brothers and sisters are not referring to siblings, but rather cousins
and other extended family members. The translation of the Greek word for brother
(adelphos) can mean brother in the strict sense or it can mean cousin or kinsman in
a broader sense. Think of our word love. I love pizza, I love movies, and I love my
wife. Obviously I dont love my wife the way I love pizza or movies. Context is crucial.

Why is it important to hold to this teaching? First, we recall that Mary is a fulfillment of
Old Testament types. One type is Eve. The virgin Eve along with Adam disobeyed God

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and their disobedience brought sin and death into the world. The Virgin Mary, as the
New Eve, listens to Gods Word and unties the knot of Eves disobedience with her
obedience.

Another type that Mary fulfills is the Ark of the Covenant, which was the sacred vessel
which held the Word of God (i.e., the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments
were written), manna, and Aarons staff. Mary had within her for nine months the true
Word of God, the bread from Heaven, and the high priest of the new and eternal
covenant. Anyone who would even touch the ark would die.

Another type of Mary is the fruitful soil of Eden. The trees were filled with fruit and no
sweat of the brow was needed to cause their growth (that was a result of the fall). Our
Lady is the fulfillment of the fertile soil and in her is true Life.

You get the point. Here is what the Catechism says:

From the first formulations of her faith, the Church has confessed that Jesus was
conceived solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
affirming also the corporeal aspect of this event: Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit
without human seed. The Fathers see in the virginal conception the sign that it truly
was the Son of God who came in a humanity like our own. Thus St. Ignatius of Antioch
at the beginning of the second century says:

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You are firmly convinced about our Lord, who is truly of the race of David according to
the flesh, Son of God according to the will and power of God, truly born of a virgin, . . .
he was truly nailed to a tree for us in his flesh under Pontius Pilate . . . he truly suffered,
as he is also truly risen.8

Then a little later we read in the Catechism:

The deepening of faith in the virginal motherhood led the Church to confess Marys
real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made man.
In fact, Christs birth did not diminish his mothers virginal integrity but sanctified it. And
so the liturgy of the Church celebrates Mary as Aeiparthenos, the Ever-virgin.9

Model of Service
This dogma exemplifies Marys spirit of service. We notice that she constantly serves
those in her path. In order to serve God wholeheartedly she took a vow of virginity
(traditionally acknowledged because of her statement in Luke 1:34: How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man). Her desire to serve God resonates throughout
her beautiful hymn of praise known as the Magnificat (cf. Luke 1:46-55). She serves
her cousin Elizabeth, and even serves those at the wedding feast of Cana. Mary serves
her Son throughout His mission on earth and continues serving the Church after His
8
9

CCC 496, footnotes omitted.

CCC 499, footnotes omitted.

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Ascension into heaven. Her virginal life is but the playing out of her service-oriented
heart.

What can I do?

You and I must be virginal in our hearts. We must protect our hearts and minds from
the defilement of the world and dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to the mission of
Christ. It is never too late to make Marys yes to God our own.

Against this doctrine the objection is sometimes raised that the Bible mentions brothers
and sisters of Jesus. The Church has always understood these passages as not
referring to other children of the Virgin Mary. In fact James and Joseph, brothers of
Jesus, are the sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew
significantly calls the other Mary. They are close relations of Jesus, according to an
Old Testament expression.

Immaculately Conceived: What is the teaching?

Pope Pius IX solemnly declared in 1854 that Mary was conceived without the stain of
original sin. Mary fulfills what is known as the Protoevangeliumliterally the first
gospel, the first promise of redemption after the fall. She is the woman whose seed
crushes the head of the serpent and its seed. Genesis 3:15 further describes Mary as
being in enmity or complete opposition with Satan. This is in contrast with Eve, who
unfortunately listened to the serpent!

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Mary is entirely committed to fulfilling the will of the Father and the mission of the Son,
in complete submission to the Holy Spirit. She show us what a total gift of self looks like
in real life. Her single focus is to bring Jesus to the world.

Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, full of
grace through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what
the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in
1854:

The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a
singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ,
Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.

The splendor of an entirely unique holiness by which Mary is enriched from the first
instant of her conception comes wholly from Christ: she is redeemed, in a more
exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son. The Father blessed Mary more than
any other created person in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
and chose her in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless
before him in love.10

Maternal Mediation

10

CCC 491-92, footnotes omitted.

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Mediation is something we often identify as a legal term. We need a mediator to

represent our interests and speak on our behalf. In Scripture Jesus is the one mediator
between Heaven and Earth. The mediation of Jesus is inclusive rather than exclusive.
This is why we see Mary as our Mediatrix.

Mary mediates the love of God to Joseph by quietly being misunderstood. She mediates
the love of God to Elizabeth at the Visitation. She mediates the child Jesus to St. John
the Baptist in utero, and to the Shepherds and Wise men at the Nativity. Mary mediates
the salvific act of Christ by not only giving birth to the Savior, but also by offering her
heart to the Father at Calvary.

She continues her motherly mediation as she invites Jesus to begin His ministry at the
Wedding of Cana, and she is present meditating at the descent of the Holy Spirit, who
had previously descended upon her in a singular way at the Annunciation. Mary was
immaculately conceived so that she could be the Mother of the Savior of the World and
in the process help mediate the goodness of God to each of us.

What can I do?

While we are not immaculately conceived, we can still offer our lives anew to God daily
and ask that we be strong against the enemy. We must mediate the love of God to
others, in all of the joyful and sorrowful moments of life. We must allow the saving work

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of Jesus to come alive in us through the sacraments and in others lives through our
prayer and loving service.

Assumption: What is the teaching?

Pope Pius XII explained the Assumption of Mary in a 1950 document called
Munificentissimus Deus. The Holy Father taught that Mary was assumed, or taken, into
heaven body and soul at the end of her earthly life. This dogmatic declaration is such a
testament of hope. We are a people of hope. Our lives have meaning and purpose, and
the Lord will raise us up anew. Mary is the icon of the Church and the hope of every
believer. Her Assumption is a beautiful reminder that earth is not our home, that we are
in the world but not of it.

Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the
course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory,
and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully
conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.The Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Sons Resurrection and an
anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:

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In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O
Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and,
by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.11

Our Advocate
An advocate is someone who will fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. Mary
knows full well that we need an advocate in our spiritual battles. We do well to keep in
mind that she desires our sanctity even more than we do. Letting Mary be a holy
heroine in our lives will make all the difference.

What can I do?

We must speak for those who cannot speak, fight for those who cannot fight. We are
called to be the face and hand and feet of Christ to those who need love. And who
doesnt need love? We must be advocates of truth and goodness amidst the lies and
evil that at times seem to overwhelm us.

The bottom line is that in order to be the saints we are called to be, we must be Marian.

Chapter 5: Marian Consecration

11

CCC 966, footnotes omitted.

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Every day I consecrate my family to the Blessed Mother. While there are many amazing
prayers to Mary, I made up a little one to include in my familys morning prayers before
school and our evening gatherings before bed. It goes like this:

I consecrate my family to the Blessed Virgin Mary: every heartbeat, every breath, every
voluntary and involuntary action, every indulgence or possible indulgence, every
moment. We want to be your loving slaves. Mary, help us to love Jesus like you, and
Jesus help us to love Mary like you. Amen.

I was trying to cover all bases! This prayer embodies the deepest aspirations of my
heart. There have been times that I have intentionally given my ministry to Mary as well
as my family. Over the years I have called her my booking agent since I firmly believe
she has opened the doors for me to minister around the world. It may seem an odd idea
to consecrate your family, ministry, future, or life to Mary, but really this is not such an
unusual idea. It is a rather important act to be sure, but we have items that are set
aside for specific uses and purposes all of the time.

When a special guest comes over, it is possible that there are certain dishes and
silverware that is taken out and set up in honor of the momentous occasion. Even in
sports we have certain clothes and equipment that is really only used for that sport.
While, it may not be terribly uncommon to see a small child walking around in his or her

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baseball uniform, it would be odd to find a grown man walking with it on as he did
grocery shopping.

When we consecrate our life, our families, or really anything to Mary, we are really
making a free gift to God through Mary. She wants our sanctity more than we do, and by
entrusting her with the most important things in our life we have a greater probability of
achieving sanctity. We are not taking away from the Lord anything that would diminish
His role as the one mediator between heaven and earth. In fact, we demonstrate this
truth by consecrating our greatest hopes and desires to Jesus through Mary.

The mediation of Christ is not exclusive, but rather wonderfully participatory. Whenever
we pray for one another, speak on behalf of another as an advocate, or even share our
spiritual journey with others, we are participating in Christs mediation, and our efforts
thereby acquire greater power and efficacy through Him. Without going into a lengthy
treatment of the Communion of Saints, lets just say that every journey toward Christ is
unique and worthy of being shared. When we share our faith, or when we assist others
who are going through what we have already waded through, we are in some sense
serving as mediators for them.

Mary knows our journey so well. She knows the difficulty of the journey, and she wants
to bring Christ into every moment of our lives. Consecrating our treasures and dreams

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to Mary invites her to point us in the right direction and whisper motherly advice to help
us reach the end of our journey successfully.

Have you ever watched parents at their kids sporting event? Im not talking about the
crazy parents who forget that Little League isnt Major League Baseball, but the normal
parents. When their child comes to the plate, out come the phones for photos, and out
comes the advice that will encourage and focus their child at bat. Good eye, Isaiah!
yells the father who proudly acknowledges his childs profound ability to avoid swinging
at the ball that has been rolling on the ground for the last three feet. Great swing,
Sarah! says the mom who knows it is actually a horrible swing compared to everyone
else on the field, but shes encouraging her self-conscious child to continue to try her
best. Similarly, when we ask Mary to assist us in loving her Son, she does so with a
truly maternal interest.

There are many famous consecrations to Mary, but probably best known is the de
Montfort consecration. St. Louis de Montfort believed it was imperative to give oneself
as a slave to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The thirty-day program of Scripture reading and
prayer is designed to prepare the individual for the holy gift of ones self to Jesus
through Mary. While we dont use a lot of that language today since there are so many
negative associations with slavery, and it certainly has negative connotations for us, the
key idea here is to make a complete gift of ourselves to God. We dont look upon God
as some horrible taskmaster. The consecration is grounded in a fundamental trust of

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God. Even more, we trust that giving ourselves to Mary is the best way to imitate Jesus
and become the saints God wants us to become.

There are many start dates that will allow you to end your consecration on a significant
Marian feast day. I remember doing my first Marian consecration with my wife, and the
final day I offered it for my baby boy Jude, who was baptized that day. It was December
8th, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The Baptism took place at the home of
the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, and it was performed by Father Don
Calloway, a priest of that order. It also happened to be the 150th anniversary of the
dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and so the consecration held a great place of joy
in my heart, knowing that I was able to give this special moment to my son.

Another amazing saint who regularly consecrated himself to Mary was St. Maximilian
Kolbe. Fr. Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish priest who died during World War II in a Nazi
concentration camp. He gave his life so that a man with a family could be spared. The
whole of St. Maximillians life was built around the beauty of his priesthood and the
desire to make Our Lady known and loved wherever possible. He used whatever media
was available at the time, gave talks and wrote to as many as possible about the beauty
of the Immaculata.

When you look at the lives of the saints, you see that they had a great love and devotion
for Mary, and by consecrating all they had to her, they knew that she would bring them

38

to Jesus in a way that would best suit their situation. I wonder if you will trust Our Lady
enough to bring you closer to her Son today. If so, I encourage you to consecrate
yourself to her and trust that she will bring you to Jesus--even now!

Chapter 6: Heroic Virtue: How Mary Leads us closer to Jesus

The Catholic Church is interested in your virtue. Many might assume that this is simply
about sexual purity. While sexual purity is important and applicable, I want to discuss
more generally how Mary will help you live out the cardinal virtues. I am afraid a few of
you just shut down emotionally at the thought of having to listen to another boring talk
about things we dont really understand. I will do my best to make sure that this is not
only painless but even interesting, because you and I are called to be virtuous. While
that was a pretty bold declaration, I am bold and beautiful.

The principal moral virtues are called cardinal from the Latin word cardo, which means
hinge. The four cardinal virtues are so important that all the other virtues literally hinge
upon them.

The more we unpack and live out these virtues, the more we will look like and act like
true followers of Christ. Not only did Mary have these qualities, but all of the saints you
know and love would have manifested these qualities in their life. We need to be
virtuous, but it can be difficult to live out something we know little about. So lets take a
closer look:
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The four cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. Prudence is
the virtue that helps us to make good choices that will lead us closer to God. Prudence
is essential when it comes discerning the best course of action amidst the various good
alternatives that are available to us. Hopefully we know enough to avoid really foolish
sins by now, and even should we fail, we need prudence to help us take positive action
to get back on the right path.

The simple point to hold on to here is that we all make many decisions every day, and
making decisions that help us on the road to sanctity is really important. Prudence helps
us to choose to do what is pleasing to God even in the most difficult situations. Mary
was prudent. She made choices that would allow her to continually magnify the Lord.
What an example for us to follow!

The second cardinal virtue is justice. When we give to God and to man that which they
are due we become people of justice. As Christians, we see the individual before us as
a person made in Gods image and precious in His sight. This awareness makes us
more inclined to treat this person justly, even if we dont care for him or her personally.
Justice is very important for us as Catholics. Some of our greatest saints spent their
entire lives affirming the dignity of the lowly in their midstthe poor, the sick and lame,
the broken and abandoned. We give drink to the thirsty and food to the hungry, and we
know that it is an act of justicerendered not only to the poor person, but also to God

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(cf. Matthew 25:31-46). Both communal worship as well as private adoration are direct
ways to give God His due, and in the process acknowledge the great gift of faith we
share as followers of Christ.

Mary was a person of great justice. She gave herself and her family to the work of the
Lord. She honored those with whom she came in contact, and we can even say that her
willingness to go and serve Elizabeth (cf. Luke 1:39-56) was an act of justice. She saw a
need and she resolved to affirm her cousins worth! We were made to treat one another
with a genuine respect, and justice is the virtue that will help us to value others as Mary
does.

Fortitude is not simply determination and inner strength, but even more it is a
willingness to remain steadfast in the Lord, even if it means martyrdom. Those saints
who died heroically for the faith were people of heroic fortitude.

Mary was a great woman of fortitude. Her steady demeanor and actions amidst possible
misunderstandings surrounding her unplanned pregnancy and accusations against her
virginal integrity were exemplary. Do we somehow imagine that Mary was so
preoccupied with heavenly thoughts that she was unaware of the gossiping neighbors
and whispering rumor mongers? I think she was aware of what people might be saying
about her, but she steadfastly placed her trust in God. Marys fortitude is of such
significance in that she is a model of fortitude for the entire Church as we strive to

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remain faithful despite the difficulties that seem to surround us. The Body of Christ
continues on with fortitude, looking to Mary as the embodiment of this virtue.

The last cardinal virtue is temperance. This virtue helps us to order and control our
sensual desires. Temperance is probably one of the most needed virtues in this age of
instant gratification. Whether we are talking about lust or gluttony, anger or envy, the
world doesnt usually see a need in moderating anything that feels good or natural at the
moment. Why worry about ordering our passions, especially if they are natural? Yet
those who think this way will also admit when pressed that we cannot simply give in to
any desire and passion we might have. In fact, those who do often find themselves
imprisoned or addicted.

Temperance helps us to look at all areas of desire and passion and enables us to
choose that which is ordered, and to modify or resist that which is not. We all have
passions, but they can be ordered and disordered. How we respond to these passions
can be either licitly or ill licitly. In other words, we are saying that some responses are in
accord with what is true and goodi.e. subject to the governance of the intellect and
willor not. Temperance helps us to resist the desires that take us away from love.
Today more than ever we certainly can lose sight of what true love looks like.
Mary allowed this virtue to flourish in her life, embracing virginity and purity in her
actions and thoughts. Her constant yes to Gods will was a profound demonstration of
what love looks like in real life.

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When we look closer at these virtues, we readily see that they are inter-related.
Consider Our Ladys response to the announcement that she would become the mother
of Jesus. She hears the message of the angel and prudently asks a question that will
enable her to understand what is being asked of her. This gives her the knowledge
needed to make a free response, such that Mary prudently responds with a yes that
forever changes history.

Marys obedience was also a just response to God the Father. Mary will be committed to
this child, even when others misunderstand, and even when St. Joseph contemplated
divorcing her quietly. Marys fortitude as the first disciple of her Son would take her all
the way to Calvary, where she will witness His rejection and execution. Mary will
nonetheless remain steadfast in her yes to Gods invitation by freely associating
herself with the offering of her Sons suffering and death on the Cross for the salvation
of the world. Rather than retaliate or defend Jesus innocence, Mary embraces Gods
will at Golgotha.

Whenever we read about Mary in the Gospels, we see these virtues reflected in various
ways, revealing her depth of understanding regarding the things of God. Whether it is
the Visitation or the Wedding Feast of Cana, each biblical scene gives us a deeper
picture of Mary, who lives out and embodies the cardinal virtues. We should follow her
example, because I am certain that it is the prudent thing to do.

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While fostering virtue may be difficult at times, Our Lord will give us the strength to carry
on regardless of the obstacles we may face. Our commitment to virtue is surely pleasing
to God and will affect others in life-changing ways. After all, the pursuit of virtue will
show up in how we reach out and love others. The virtues help us love God, others, and
ourselves in a way that is just right!

Chapter 7: To Be Marian: Intimate Devotion to Christ

The Churchs devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship. The
Church rightly honors the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient
times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of Mother of God, to whose
protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. . . . This very special devotion . .
. differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally
to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.12

We started this little work by looking at the importance of balance in our spiritual life.
Mary wants to keep us on the straight and narrow in our journey to God. Then we
looked at some Old Testament types that point us to the Blessed Mother, and we did a
brief survey of some Marian passages in the New Testament. The Church assisted us in
looking deeper at Mary in Scripture and Church Tradition, as we discovered why these
12

CCC 971, footnotes omitted.

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dogmatic truths about Mary are necessary and beautiful to reflect upon and imitate. We
have considered the importance of consecration to Mary and also the invitation to
imitate Mary in the pursuit of Christian virtue. This final chapter is meant to just
encourage us in our relationship with Mary, as Mother, mentor, model, and friend.

Mothers are irreplaceable, and their impact can never be fully exhausted. She is the
giver and nurturer of life, the backbone of the family, and often the spiritual pace car
within the home. She is a taxi driver, doctor and nurse, counselor and maid, and so
much more.

Mothers never stop working for their family, and if they arent careful they can lose a bit
of themselves and their dreams along the way. A father should be there to help make
her dreams come true, but that meditation is for another time. Mothers make a
difference to any frightened child, and they usually remember to do things like feed the
kids, help them get dressed, and assist in their homework. Moms matter, and when they
are close to Christ, the whole home hums with a good rhythm of life.

Mary truly has all of the amazing qualities about a mom that we have grown to love and
cherish. I bet Jesus came home and smelled His mothers cooking and thought it was
the most amazing meal ever made. Im sure the sound of Mary telling the child Jesus a
bedtime story was a profoundly comforting to Him.

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Mary is our mother, and I am confident that she is ready to teach you far more about
loving Christ than you might imagine. She cares for you and longs for your sanctity, and
as mother she knows just how to make the greatest impact in your life. I would suggest
writing a list of the qualities you love about your own mother and ask Mary to show you
how she is those things for youand more!

You might also make a list of qualities about your mother that are not so positive, and
ask Mary to show you how they are countered by her maternity.

Mary is a mentor. She comes alongside each of us and not only helps us in our
difficulties, but she also shows us by her actions how to do something with excellence.
Mary wants to be with you at every moment to assist you in your small yes to God in
every situation you encounter. Mary will take you very close to Jesus. Why? Because
Mary knows Jesus so intimately, and she desires to share this knowledge, this
encounter, with all her spiritual children who come to her for motherly aid.

Mary is a model of what a relationship with God can look like. She has a singular
relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Mary is fully
human, and therefore we can look to her and realize by her example various ways to
foster a relationship with God. Mary is obedient and a complete gift to God the Father.
Her life is consecrated to Him, and in fact our tradition teaches us that Mary
consecrated herself to God at a very young age.

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She desired to live for and please God, and this gift of self was something that would
continue to grow in her relationship with the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes
upon Mary at the Annunciation, the love of the Father fills Mary in such a holy and
singular way that the Son takes flesh within her womb. The fecundity, or life-giving love
of the Holy Trinity manifests itself in Mary, who models the love of the Trinity by her
complete, self-giving love.

Just imagine Marys love for God the Son, whom she carried within her womb for nine
months, in addition to caring for and nurturing Him in His early years. She raised the
Christ Child as a good Jewish boy, who grew in wisdom and stature (see Luke 2:52).
Jesus is fully God and fully human. While this is a great mystery, Mary saw the trueness
of these two natures in the one Person of Jesus.

We have much to learn from Mary, and she models for us how a relationship with the
Trinity can look. We are meant to obey the will of the Father, to receptively submit to the
movement of the Spirit of God, and to say yes to Christ in us. We are called to model
to others the beauty of what a relationship with God can look like!

We can also see Mary as our friend. The beauty of friendship is something that every
person should experience. The ability to share with another whatever is on our mind,
without fear of being judged, well, that is friendship. Selfless, loving concern for another
is an important aspect of friendship. Mary is our friend. She is waiting for us to enter into

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a deeper relationship with her so that we can know Jesus as our older brother (see
Romans 8:29).

Each day Mary reaches out to us, because she considers us her friends in the Lord. In
a similar way, we have the chance to befriend any and all people whom we might meet
today. The more we show them what our relationship with Christ looks like by
befriending them in their brokenness and weakness, the more we will be like Mary.

Conclusion

Where are you at in your relationship with Mary? I hope and pray you find a new way to
invite her into your own journey of faith. I know that you will find her insights and
comments about the path you are on to be invaluable. Mary awaits you as a mother
ready to scoop up a child with a skinned knee. She is there for you to cheer you on as
you live out your faith in a heroic and oftentimes misunderstood way. Mary is ready to
show you how to love and live for God, especially when you are uncertain of the next
step to take. She will not forsake you because you are not only her friend, but her child.
Her whole life was a gift to God the Father in the love of the Spirit, in union with her Son
so that you may receive the gift of salvation!

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Mary will not lead you away from Jesus. Rather, she will take you into the very presence
of Christ, and not only stand beside you, but she will teach you how best to honor, love,
and serve the Lord.

If you dont have a relationship with Mary, know that Jesus wants that for you so that
you can grow in your relationship with Him. Marian devotion is not a competition that
gives to Mary what rightly belongs to Jesus. Instead, it is a conscious choice to give our
whole selves to Jesus through Mary so that we dont waste a moment of this precious
life.

Many blessings to you and yours as you grow in your love of Christ, through Mary our
mother.

Chris Padgett
ChrisPadgett.com

Chris relies upon people like you to support his ministry

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What makes for a long-lasting, thriving marriage, one thats not only holy
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