No matter our station in life, whether we work an outside job or stay home to care for children or grandchildren, whether we are physically active or homebound, we can strive to honor the Blessed Mother in our own unique way, even as simple as praying a daily Rosary for peace.
By Maria V. Gallagher
For me, this time of year will always represent a celebration of love.
Growing up in the Frostbelt State of Ohio, I became accustomed to bitterly cold winters. But nothing could cancel out the warmth I felt on St. Valentine’s Day, when my parents would treat us to a steak dinner and a fabulous dessert. It was their way of showering my younger sister and me with love.
So, many years later, as a mother myself, I have a new appreciation not only for the earthly mother God gave me, but also for the heavenly mother the Lord gave to all of us. And I find that, in both ordinary time and in Lent, I want to demonstrate to our Blessed Mother my devotion.
Honor your mother
Perhaps you are feeling that tug at your heart as well. You may want to show your love to Our Lady, but are a little uncertain about how to do it. Talk about the woman who has everything! She is the Queen of the Universe, the Mother of God, and an eternally spotless Virgin. It can be downright intimidating trying to come up with ways to honor her.
Here are some tips I have found that have aided me in my dedication to Our Lady:
1. To the woman who has everything, give everything.
Each year, I renew my consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This devotion, popularized by St. Louis de Montfort, opens the door to an abundance of graces by handing over everything we have — our talent, our time, our treasure, our prayers — to Mary, entrusting them to her care. It’s actually quite freeing, knowing that all I have belongs to our Blessed Mother to use as she wishes. In return, I trust that Mary will lead me to Jesus and to everlasting happiness with Him.
2. Check in with your Mother every day.
I begin my day with a Morning Offering, reiterating that I am giving my day over to Our Lady. I offer my joys, sorrows, blessings, and challenges to her, realizing that she will, in turn, offer her assistance to me in my daily struggles. I liken this to the phone call I used to place to my mother each day, letting her know of my love for her. While my mother died a number of years ago, the legacy of love I shared with her continues through the love I show toward my own daughter. Similarly, the love we hold for Mary can expand to include love for our fellow travelers on this earthly journey.
3. Do something creative for Mary.
Options abound for tapping into our creative juices to show our devotion to the Blessed Mother. We might write a special prayer to her; compose a poem in her honor; create a Marian-inspired hymn; paint a picture; or embroider a sweater. The possibilities are limited only by our imaginations!
Your own unique way
No matter our station in life, whether we work an outside job or stay home to care for children or grandchildren, whether we are physically active or homebound, we can strive to honor the Blessed Mother in our own unique way, even as simple as praying a daily Rosary for peace.
I can attest to the fact that much joy can flow from strengthening our relationship with Our Lady. A few years ago, I sought Mary’s help with my writing. As a result, I became the author of four published books, all from Marian Press, with a fifth on the way! Mary has blessed me abundantly, blessings I have been able to share with my readers. This achievement would not have been possible without the Blessed Mother’s assistance.
So share your heart with Mary! Dedicate your life to her; talk to her; dream with her. Entrust your cares to her, and prepare for miracles to happen.
We need to give Mary our best because she wants the best for us. We can rest easy, knowing that this glorious mother is looking out for our well-being.
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States, pray for us!
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