There's Something About Mary

My mother's name was Mary.  She was a really good mom and I loved her.  She was strong in her faith and I would like to think I share that with her.  She didn't talk about it much, but I know she believed in the power of prayer.  Like most people, when I had problems, I talked to my mom.  I asked her help.  I knew she would do anything she could for me even if she could not directly solve the problem.

One of the most common misunderstandings non-Catholics have about Catholicism is our devotion to Jesus' mom, Mary.  We call her the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and many, many more titles, but bottom line, she's Jesus' mom.  We don't see that as just another woman in the salvation story.  She's His mom.

When we were planning our wedding, I told the parish administrator who was with our ceremony that I wanted to include "flowers to Mary," a moment where I could take flowers to a statue of Mary and say a prayer.  I was told that they didn't do that unless there was a specific devotion to Mary.  I told them I had a special devotion.  I'm not sure if I really considered it that at the time, but it was important to me to include it in our wedding.  I remember asking Mary to pray for our marriage.

I think a lot of people don't understand what it means to "pray" to Mary.  I don't think Mary has the ability to do things only God can do.  When I "prayed" to her during my wedding, I wasn't asking for her to do anything really supernatural.  I was just asking her to join me in praying for our marriage.  I know my mother was praying, why wouldn't I want Jesus' mother interceding for His blessing on our marriage?

When we were having difficulties having a baby, there was a moment in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico where I said a prayer before an image of Mary.  I didn't realize it at the time, but it was La Conquistadora, Our Lady of the Rosary, the oldest image of Mary in the Americas.  I laid it all there - my fears, the pressure, all of it.  As I stood up, I felt a real sense of release.  I knew there was another person helping me.  It's the same kind of thing I would ask my mom.

I recognize that a devotion to Mary and her unique role in the Church can't be fully described in this short post.  However, I do think it's a starting point to understanding of how she helps me, mothers me, intercedes for me.

After all, if you want help trying to persuade a guy to do something, who better to ask than his mother, right?

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Peace

Peace.

Today, January 1, 2014 is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and also World Day of Peace.  What a great day to begin "Comfortably Catholic"!  I already write a lifestyle blog "Straddling the Gap" but have long wanted a forum to express my faith.  Comfortably Catholic describes where I want to be in my faith journey; not "comfortable" in the sense of complacent, but more relaxed, assured, peaceful in my faith.

Peace.

In a world where peace is at a premium, my goal for 2014 is to be at peace.  As difficult as world peace seems, I think maintaining personal peace can be harder.  I love my faith and I love Christ's Church, but sometimes I feel militant and protective in defending it.  There are times when that approach is necessary, but, following the example of Pope Francis, this is a time for proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ with kindness, respect and peace.

Peace.

Mary is the ultimate guide to inner peace.  Despite the turmoil all around her, the fear, the poverty, the responsibility, she modeled a peaceful faith in God.  In return, God gave her the graces she needed to be Theotokos - Mother of God.  She constantly points us to the only source of peace which is found in a relationship with her Son, Jesus Christ.  He's the source of her peace and He can be the source of ours too.

Today I pray for peace.  Peace for the world.  Peace for myself.  Peace through Jesus Christ.

Be still and know that I am God  Psalm 46:10.

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