May is for Mary

We have moved into the month of May and during this month we as a Church honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. The practice of dedicating May to Mary has been around for over 700 years. As Catholics we have a great respect and devotion to Mary that is sometimes questioned by non-Catholics, we are often accused of Mariolatry which means that we are accused of worshiping Mary, but you all know that we do not worship Mary, worship is only for God. What we do as Catholics is to honor Mary and the other saints. So, the question is why do we have this devotion and what does it mean for us. Well, the simplest answer to the question is that she was the one in whom our Lord and Savior Jesus chose to be born from with the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself honored his mother and so should we.

There are a number of passages in Scripture that support the fact that Jesus honored his mother. In the passage from John’s Gospel about the wedding feast in Cana, Mary came to Jesus when they ran out of wine and he responds, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” To which she responds to tell the waiters to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. This passage is one that shows us that Mary’s intercession does hold some weight with Jesus, remember he does what his mother asks! Another passage that shows the concern and love that he has for Mary is at the Crucifixion itself when on the cross he gives her to the care of the disciple who he loves. Throughout history Mary has interceded for us and also has appeared many times to give us hope in times of trial. Mary has a special role in our history, and that role is to bring Jesus to us and us to Jesus.

May is the month in which we are reminded to pray the rosary and other devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary asking for her intercession. I think that in this time of trial and struggle we can rely on her strength and witness to her son even in his death. Take some time this month to see where we can continually draw closer to our heavenly mother, who in turn will fulfill her role to bring us to her son and our Savior.

God bless,
Father Ken