St. Louis Marie de Montfort – whose feast day we celebrate this week – was most ardently devoted to Mary, Our Mother. He had a firm belief that the Virgin Mary is the most “perfect model to imitate and a powerful helper to assist.”
Through her lifelong “Yes” in accordance with the Lord’s will, the Virgin Mary stands firm as the first true disciple. Not only does she perfectly fulfill her role as disciple, but she also serves as a faithful and loving Mother to all who seek her aid. When we present our needs to Mother Mary, she takes our prayers, increases their perfection and presents them directly to the Lord. In allowing the Virgin Mary to advocate for us, we are acknowledging that she is not only the Mother of Our Savior, but our very own Mother, too.
St. Louis Marie de Montfort further explains this devotion to Mary in saying, “For we never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor his Mother and we honor her simply and solely to honor him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek — Jesus, her Son.”
As the most perfect disciple, Mary knows Jesus Christ, her Son, more than any other. It is Mother Mary, then, who can guide us to Our Savior, revealing His most sacred heart and deepening our conversion.
While it is easy to label Mary as our Mother, it might be more difficult to actually view her as such. It can feel unusual to declare a holy woman from 2000 years ago as your spiritual Mother. But, like any other relationship, your conviction and acceptance of Mary as Mother will grow as you spend more time in her holy presence.
To grow in viewing Mary as my own Mother, I began praying the mysteries of the Rosary from Mary’s perspective – particularly the Sorrowful mysteries. It was then that my devotion to Mary deepened at long last. In viewing the suffering of Jesus Christ through the motherly, loving gaze of Mary, I began to see the depth of her love – not only for her Son, but for all of humanity whom He died to save. As Christ declared Mary as the Mother of John the Apostle, I felt the immense care that poured forth from her heart. She is a patient and charitable Mother to all and she longs to lead us to her Son, Christ Jesus.
How fortunate we are here at Mount St. Mary’s to be totally surrounded by reminders of her love. The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and the breathtaking, golden statue of Mary on the mountainside all serve as reminders that we are protected within Mary’s mantle of motherly love.