Blessed Virgin Mary: A Mother in Time of Need
This month someone asked me, “Why do you Catholics pray to Mary?” I explained why we regard Mary as a mother and why the National Geographic once called her “the most powerful woman on earth.” At the Annunciation, when Mary conceived Jesus, she also conceived us in a sense. Jesus became our brother and his mother became ours. This was confirmed on Calvary when Jesus said to John (who represented us) “Behold your mother.” Mary was in the midst of the Church on Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down on the first members (that’s in the Bible)…and Mary has never left the Church. The Second Vatican Council gave her the title “Mother of the Church” and now some 2,000 years after she lived (!), a memorial Mass was proclaimed in honor of Mary, Mother of the Church, observed this year on May 21. We pray to our Blessed Mother because she is an effective intercessor. Remember the Wedding at Cana? Jesus did not intend to begin his public ministry then, but because of his mother’s urging, he changed his mind and worked his first miracle! Just as we ask our family and friends on earth to pray for us, we can ask our heavenly mother to intercede for us with her Son. He tends to listen to his mother.
In my new book “Heart to Heart with Mary,” she speaks to us as a loving mother each day of the year. The following entry is one that illustrates Mary’s care for us.
In Need of Help
Our Lady of Prompt Succor
January 8
My child, during the times you walk a perilous path, I’m concerned about you. You may encounter grave danger from natural disasters: fire, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, or earthquakes. Enemies may conspire against you. Problems regarding your family, your job, your health, or your finances might seem insurmountable. What threatens you may be minor, but nonetheless upsetting and robbing you of sleep. No matter what disturbs your peace, at the first sign of it, you can look to me with confidence for help. As quickly as any mother speeds to her child in distress, I will hurry to your aid. I will protect and defend you. I promise.
So let me wrap you in the protecting folds of my mantle and clasp you close to my heart until what frightens you passes by and your fear dissipates. Through me, God rescued all people. And through me, your compassionate mother, love and mercy flow to you when you are in distress. You can look forward to my unending help until the end of your days on earth.
Let Mary know about anything troubling you today. Tell her you have confidence in her and her love for you.
When have you experienced the power of Mary’s intercession?
Amiens Cathedral and Any Church
In doing research for my next book, I came across this fantastic site in France: the cathedral of Notre Dame in Amiens. Capable of encompassing 10,000 people, it is the largest cathedral in the country. The facade has numerous statues and sculptures, and the interior boasts of a labyrinth and thousands of wood carvings and paintings. The church has been called “the Bible of Amiens.” Inside, 126 sky-high pillars support this immense structure built in the Middle Ages. Allegedly the skull of St. John the Baptist is kept there. It was discovered that at one time the statues that adorn the exterior were painted. Now in the evenings a polychrome light show illuminating these statues is presented. That is what you see in the video here. This is a far cry from the home churches where the Christians celebrated the Eucharist during the first three hundred years!
The magnificent cathedrals that sprang up all over Europe expressed the adoration the people knew God deserved. They poured their blood, sweat, tears, and money into building houses for God that were worthy of him. The United States too has magnificent structures for worship, such as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Whether immense or small, our churches are sacred places where we believe God dwells today. They are holy ground like Mount Sinai, Mount Tabor, and Mount Calvary where we encounter our God and speak with him.
Once I met a family whose father took them to a different church each Sunday during the summer. That is a good idea, for it opens their eyes to the larger Catholic family and introduces them to different saints and a variety of ways to worship. I hope on their itinerary was a cathedral, which is the bishop’s “seat” in each diocese. Perhaps they had a tour and learned about when it was built; the meaning of the stained-glass windows; who, if anyone, is buried there; interesting features; and so forth.
In my book “The Heartbeat of Faith” among the poems is one intended to instill in children reverence for a church as sacred space:
In God’s holy house, I’m as quiet as can be.
There I talk to Jesus, and Jesus talks to me.
Church, God’s holy house, is not the place for fun.
I do not laugh or giggle, wiggle, scream, or run.
Deep within my heart when I’m very, very still,
I hear God say, “I love you, and I always will.”
My earliest memory is being at Mass with my grandmother and crying because of the incense. Women around us were trying to hush me. Gradually I learned church etiquette, like being quiet in church, dressing up for Mass, and not chewing gum. Today children need to be taught not to use their cellphones during Mass!
What is your favorite church or chapel? Why?
Mother’s Day and Our Blessed Mother, Mary
This week I’ve been visiting religious goods stores and offering my latest book, “Heart to Heart with Mary: A Yearly Devotional,” in which Mary speaks to us personally each day. This book is perfect now for several reasons. It makes a nice gift for Mother’s Day. We are in the month of May, which is dedicated to Mary, our heavenly Mother. Moreover, we have a newly proclaimed “Mary Mother of the Church” memorial to observe on Mondays after Pentecost (for the first time on May 21 this year). The book is available as a softcover book and an e-book. When it was published, Sister Margaret Kerry, FSP, wrote the following review for it, which appeared on the Catholic Mom website and is reprinted here:
The daily devotional Jesus Calling is one of the popular Christian titles in our Pauline Books & Media Centers. Sarah Young said the presence of the Lord in her life inspired her to write what Jesus might say. I have often wondered what a specifically Catholic version of Jesus Calling might look like. (more…)
Mary, May, Mothers, and Flowers
Well, spring is officially here! Despite the recent snow and cold weather, a few daffodils bravely appeared in front of my house. Did you know that a daffodil is called Mary’s star? In doing research for my book “The Catholic Companion to Mary,” I discovered that more than 700 flowers and plants have been named for Mary or are connected to her through legends. This makes sense because our Blessed Mother is the most beautiful of women, and flowers are arguably the loveliest of God’s creations. Chaucer called Mary “the flower of flowers.” This Scripture verse is applied to her: “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys” (Song of Solomon 2:1). Mary gardens, where “Mary” flowers grow, beautify the grounds of our National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. and some parishes.
Here is a “bouquet” of Marian flowers for you as found in my book: (more…)
Signs of Compassion
Recently a group of us Sisters met and talked about compassion. Using quotations about it as a springboard, we reflected on how Jesus told us to be compassionate as our Father is compassionate, how God’s amazing compassion was shown in sending Jesus and ways Jesus had compassion, and how compassion is an infinite ocean of love that spills over into all of creation. All who studied Latin are aware that our word “com-passion” comes from two Latin words meaning “to suffer with.” We women especially liked the fact that the Hebrew word for compassion (rachum) is comparable to “womb.” This implies that being compassionate is life-giving, nourishing, and protective. Compassion means being responsible for the needs of others both near and far. Sister Carol McHenry put a lot of thought into preparing for our conversation. She asked herself, What does it mean to be compassionate. Here is the list she shared with us that I found insightful and inspiring, and you might too:
To be compassionate is . . .
to feel with another
to look them in the eyes
to listen without talking
to love the unlovable
to affirm someone
to go out of my comfort zone
to give a helping hand
to pray for those in need
to simply be with
to take action
to console and challenge
to weep and hold
to truly love like Jesus 
Pope Francis has given us a new encyclical called “Rejoice and Be Glad.” In it he makes a solid case for compassion as the key to happiness in this world and the next.
Jesus showed compassion by giving sight to the blind, healing lepers, opening the ears of the deaf, and bringing the dead back to life. Performing miracles such as these is beyond our power. And sometimes the needs of people in the world are so overwhelming that we have compassion fatigue. We feel helpless in the face of so much misery. We know we can’t do much to relieve all the suffering in the world. However, we have countless opportunities to show compassion in small ways, like holding the door open for an overburdened mother or shopping for a housebound person. Even smiling at someone can be an act of compassion in that it brightens that person’s day.
Can you add to Sister Carol’s list? When have you been compassionate? When have you benefited from someone’s compassion?
