When I noticed this morning that it was May 1, something tugged at my memory. Hmm, May Day, yes, but something else. Hmmm, eye doctor appointment, yes, but something else. Hmmm, a dress to sew, yes, but something else. What could it be? It wasn't until Faith and I were sitting at the school table that I realized, oh my gosh -- it's MAY! Every Day in May for Mary!
I didn't even think about May being MAY -- you know for Mary -- until that moment. I've been so incredibly busy with dresses and veils and rosaries, who has time to think about the date? Well, I am ever so grateful that the Holy Spirit reminded me on May 1! So, no matter what else there is to do, I'll be here, Every Day in May for Mary.
As today caught me off guard, the first thing I thought to post about was Mary Undoer of Knots, because my prayers to this particular devotion of Mary has been strong lately. But, as I was looking for something special to use for today, I found this video (below), taken on October 13, 2013, the anniversary of the last day of the apparitions at Fatima, Portugal, in St. Peter's Square, and as I watched it I wept. For those with a devotion to Mary, no explanation is needed. People in the crowd are crying, waving white cloths in devotion.
For non-Catholics and Catholics (because even many Catholics do not have a great devotion to Mary) who do not understand the Catholic devotion to Our Blessed Mother, I can only explain this scene this way: the crowd, Pope Francis, do not worship the statue of Mary. We do not worship statues. We revere the image of Our Blessed Mother, as you see Pope Francis lean over and kiss the feet of the statue, as we wish we could revere Our Lord's mother in person.
And why do we have a devotion to Mary? Why do we pray to Our Blessed Mother instead of going directly to Our Savior? The simple answer is, because He came through her to us. Of all the ways Our Almighty Savior could have come to us, He chose her. And in return, she takes our prayers of troubles and our prayers of thanks to Him, and presents them to Him in the way that only a mother can come to her son, with unimaginable love.
To Jesus through Mary. Ad Jesu Per Mariam
Happy May!
Be sure to watch to the end. Or if you're short on time fast forward until the statue gets to the steps and the pope comes down to greet it.
That was beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHappy May, dear friend!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful post Barbara! As a protestant I have always felt that we did not give Mary the reverence she deserves. This post challenges me to take time daily to reflect on her love of God and her love of her Son! I am doing a bible study now at home Becoming a Woman of Excellence and I was just reading about how Mary treasured up all the happenings around Jesus's birth. I pray that we all take the time to treasure time with our Father in heaven and with our children here on earth.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful post Barbara! As a protestant I have always felt that we did not give Mary the reverence she deserves. This post challenges me to take time daily to reflect on her love of God and her love of her Son! I am doing a bible study now at home Becoming a Woman of Excellence and I was just reading about how Mary treasured up all the happenings around Jesus's birth. I pray that we all take the time to treasure time with our Father in heaven and with our children here on earth.
ReplyDelete