OUR MOST LOVING MOTHER
Rosemary Joy looks at the humble maiden who was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, our Saviour.
Mother Of God
When Mary looked down at her beautiful baby boy, just like any mother, her heart was filled with great love for her precious child. This tiny baby she cradled in her arms was different, He was God Himself and she loved Him. The beauty of motherhood will always be the greatest expression of human love. Imagine how strong the bond between Jesus and His beloved mother was and still is. Jesus, being the perfect child, and Mary, being the perfect mother, would have the best mother and child relationship. Saint Maximillian Kolbe said, “Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.” This is true. Jesus loves His mother more than any child could ever love their mother.
Our Beloved Mother
It amazes me that we can ask The Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for us and present our prayers to Jesus because I’m sure that our Lord could never say, ‘no’ to His mother. He loves her so much. Even without us asking her, Mother Mary is always praying for us because we are her children. Jesus gave us His mother to be our very own. The amazing thing is that He did this as He was dying on the Cross, in the final stages of His sacrifice to bring us salvation. This shows how important the gift of His mother Mary is to humanity. “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, He said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27) Just like John took Mary into his home after Jesus entrusted her to him, we are being asked by Jesus to take Mary into our own heart, to cherish and love her as our very own mother.
Her Immaculate Heart
The Blessed Virgin Mary wants to help us to love Jesus as she does. We can do this by consecrating ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and when we do this we unite ourselves more closely to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. It also means that we will always be under her maternal protection and Satan would never dare to touch a child under the protective mantle of Mary. Saint Maximillian Kolbe said that The Blessed Virgin Mary alone "has from God the promise of victory over Satan. She seeks souls that will consecrate themselves entirely to her, that will become in her hands forceful instruments for the defeat of Satan and the spread of God's kingdom." If we consecrate ourselves to the most loving maternal heart of Mary, we have nothing to fear, as we will be held safely in the same arms that carried and cared for the King of the Universe.
Our Consecration
Let us begin each day with this very simple, yet powerful prayer of consecration to the Most Immaculate Heart of Mary, “Blessed Virgin Mary, my Mother, I consecrate myself and my family to your Most Immaculate Heart today.” Then, go about as normal knowing that you have nothing to fear! “What a joy to remember that she, Mary, is our Mother! Since she loves us and knows our weakness, what have we to fear?” (St Therese of Lisieux)
Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did. - St. MaxiMilian Kolbe