May - The Month of Our Mother

When I was a grade school student we learned many hymns and songs to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was number one on the Catholic Hit Parade. One of them went something like this .... May is the Month of our Mother. Our beautiful, beautiful Mother. The words were a bit soft and sentimental, but they reminded us that the Blessed Virgin holds a place of honour, a place of pre-eminence, within the Catholic Christian Community. She is truly mother to us all.

We know, of course, that Mary is the Mother of God. The YES spoken by Mary to the Angel Gabriel, was the open door through which God himself entered into our human reality. By the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit she gave flesh and blood to God’s own Son, Jesus Christ.

But as Mother of God, Mary becomes by extension, our Mother too. Jesus himself entrusted his disciples to her motherly care as he hung upon the cross. Behold your mother ... he said to the Apostle John. Behold your son ... He said to Mary. From the arms of the cross Jesus expanded his family circle to include each and every one of us.

As Christians, you and I are welcomed into that family circle through the waters of Baptism. Washed in the Spirit, we are born again as brothers and sisters of Christ. And thus Mary becomes mother of all those joined to Jesus in the Spirit as parts of one body. She is Mother of the Church.

Mary treasures all who belong to her Son Jesus, constantly praying for each and every one of us. Her greatest desire is to see us safely home to Heaven. Deeply concerned for our eternal well-being, Mary grieves when her children wander from the path and fall into sin. With maternal care, she redirects our minds and hearts to Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

May is the Month of our Mother.  Do we show our respect and love for her by walking with her in the footsteps of Jesus? Mary was acclaimed as full of grace. Embraced by the Holy Spirit, she is intimately united to the Heart of Jesus her Son. Do we seek her prayers in time of need, trusting that she will bring our needs and intentions to the Throne of God?

For Catholics the Rosary is a privileged prayer. Its repetitive prayers create a quiet space where we can ponder with Mary the mysteries of Jesus her Son. This month, dedicated to Mary our Mother, might be a good time to reclaim the Rosary and pray. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee.

Msgr. Paul Zimmer
Pastor, St Clement Catholic Church, Etobicoke