Behold Your Mother

Tips for growing in our devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

by Father Meinrad Miller

What does it mean to be Christian? Obviously the easy answer is following Christ – Mary was the first to know who Jesus was, and not only that, she carried and bore the Son of God! Scripture doesn’t say all that much about Christ in his youth, what must that have been like? Being a parent is hard enough, but to be the Mother of God, that is a separate challenge unto itself.

On the Cross Christ turned to the beloved disciple and said “behold your mother!” It was in this moment that Christ acknowledges Mary, not just as his earthly mother, but indeed as the mother of the whole Church – and of each person who is a part of that Church. When we’re growing up, indeed it is our mother who we depend upon first. In this same way, Christ is telling us to turn to Mary when we are in need.

People are always asking, “why do Catholics worship Mary.” Of course the answer is that we don’t worship her. But we do acknowledge that as the Mother of Jesus, she is also our mother. How do we allow our love for Mary to also increase our love in her Son, Jesus Christ? Here are six tips to grow closer to Mary, your mother.

Hailing from the small Western Kansas town of Leoti, Fr. Meinrad Miller became a monk of St. Benedict’s Abbey in 1986. He currently serves as an instructor of Theology at Benedictine College and also serves the Abbey as Choirmaster.

When Mary said “behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38) That statement was bold. But Monsignor Luigi Giussani used to say that the next line is often overlooked, “and the angel departed from her.” (Lk 1:38) When the messenger of God is in front of us we should seek to boldly say “yes”. Mary said “yes” to God every day, even as she stood beneath the cross and watched her beloved Son die the most ignominious death possible.

Lord give me the grace to say “yes” to you this day.

Ponder all these things in your heart. - Luke 2:51

After finding Jesus in the temple, we are told that “Mary kept all these things in her heart.” (Lk 2:51) Jesus had just told her: “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Lk 2:49) Mary can help us to stay focused on Jesus, to keep the great fact of His presence in our hearts. It is so easy when the world around us mocks belief, and truth, to simply give up. Look to Mary, who holds on.

Do whatever He tells you

At the Wedding of Cana, we hear the last words recorded in Scripture of our Blessed Mother: “do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5) Saint Teresa of Calcutta said that the Immaculate Heart of Mary is the cause of our joy, because she leads us to

Jesus. Likewise, Saint Teresa of Calcutta said we become the cause of her joy when we lead others to Jesus.

Pray the Rosary

Pope Francis, is his 2013 Homily for the Assumption said: Prayer with Mary, especially the Rosary, has this “suffering” dimension, that is of struggle, a sustaining prayer in the battle against the evil one and his accomplices. The Rosary also sustains us in the battle. Each day we can allow Mary to be with us in the battles of our life, the battle for holiness, purity and virtue.

Ask Mary to intercede for you to receive the Holy Spirit

At the Annunciation, the Angel told Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” (Lk 1:35) Later, as Jesus is preparing his disciples for the Ascension, he tells them: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Just as Mary was, and is filled with the Holy Spirit, as our mother she wants us to enjoy, and be guided by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Remember Mary in the Liturgy

Every day when the Church prays evening prayer, we pray the Magnificat or Canticle of Mary. (Lk 1:46-55) As St. Bede the Venerable reminds us in a lovely sermon for the Feast of the Visitation, “Therefore it is an excellent and fruitful custom of holy Church that we should sing Mary’s hymn at the time of evening prayer. By meditating upon the incarnation, our devotion is kindled, and by remembering the example of God’s Mother, we are encouraged to lead a life of virtue. Such virtues are best achieved in the evening. We are weary after the day’s work and worn out by our distractions. The time for rest is near, and our minds are ready for contemplation.”

Also at Mass in every Eucharistic Prayer we pray for Mary’s help, as seen from the words of the Roman Canon, or First Eucharistic Prayer: in communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious ever-Virgin

Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ…we ask through their merits and prayers, in all things we may be defended by your protecting help.