One of the most important moments in Christian history is when Christ, out of his great love for us, gave his mother to his beloved disciple, and by extension, to us. “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.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (Jn 19:26-27)
Jesus gave Mary to us as our mother to accompany us, walk with us and intercede for us at every moment. We need her now more than ever. Experts tell us we are amid a mental health crisis. News of war and rumors of widening war threaten us daily, and when filtered through the harsh rhetoric of social media, tempts us to resentment and ultimately, despair. This is why we ask Mary to pray for us now, and at the hour of our death.
Mary invites us to peace. One of the ways she shows us how to fortify ourselves against daily disturbances is developing an interior life with God in the Rosary. Even though the day may be very busy and full of distractions, when we pray and enter into the mysteries of the Rosary, we feel peaceful. That is no accident. Mary is the queen of peace. She longs to bring that peace into our lives. Honoring her in such a way and reflecting on the mysteries is the gift the Lord wants to give us, the gift of peace.
Saints Louis de Montfort, Bernadette Soubirous, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Padre Pio were all known for praying the Rosary, but we need look no further than our brothers and sisters in the churches of our diocese who pray the Rosary before daily Mass, in their homes, or in their cars driving home from work. One quickly discovers that daily Mass-going, daily Rosary-praying men and women often have a peaceful spirit.
Through our devotion to Mary, we learn how to trust and rely on God, who alone brings peace to the human heart. In her fiat (her “yes”) in which she agrees to God’s plan, announced to her by the angel Gabriel, Mary demonstrates great confidence in God in a profoundly mysterious moment in salvation history. Additionally, the power of her intercession, in which she pleads for us before the throne of her Son, unlocks for us the graces of his Sacred Heart and peace of his heavenly kingdom.
As we celebrate our Diocesan Golden Jubilee, I am grateful that steadfast devotion to Mary has been foundational to the many ways we have been blessed in our diocese, reflected in the number of churches named in her honor: Basilica of St. Mary, St. Mary of Sorrows, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Queen of Apostles, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Our Lady of the Valley, Our Lady of the Blue Ridge, Our Lady of the Shenandoah, Our Lady of Angels, Our Lady of Hope, Our Lady of La Vang, and Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Who knows what joys and sorrows the month of May will bring? I pray that no matter what happens, we can look to Mary, giving thanks for all the great things God has done for us. Mary’s soul rejoiced in the Lord because she was so attuned, so aware of God’s goodness and how God acted in and through her life. If we take time to remember that we will find joy. She is the perfect example.
