Day 11 :: 31 Days With Mary—A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence. —Saint Francis de Sales— Enough said.
Day 10 :: 31 Days With Mary—Proclaiming God’s Greatness
Keeping it simple on this 10th day of 31 Days with Mary … My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with…
Day 9 :: 31 Days With Mary—Five Simple Ways to Invite Mary Into Your Heart, Your Home, Your Family
One of the last things Jesus did before he died was give us His mother Mary to be our mother. From the Gospel of John, “‘Woman, behold your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (19:26-27). Jesus’ final words not only pertained to Mary and John, they also included me and you and allof humanity. “Jesus Christ, after having given us all he could give, that…
Day 8 :: 31 Day With Mary—Grandma, Knitting and Mary
On Friday, I shared a bit about my grandma’s influence in my journey toward Marian devotion. I thought I’d share a bit more about her the impact she has had in my life today … The two things I remember most about my grandma are that she had a beautiful devotion to the Rosary and she spent a great deal of time knitting. She probably prayed and knitted at the same time! Her knitting was really a ministry of sorts….
Day 7 :: 31 Days With Mary + #WorthRevisit :: Exalt in Monotony
Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, during the month of the Rosary! I discovered a lovely reflection on the Rosary in my archives, and I thought it would be #WorthRevisiting today: All the supreme teachers, the popes, have been unanimous in proclaiming that the devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Rosary are the hope and salvation of the world in our evil and dangerous era. They have endeavored, by word and example, to bring the…
Day 6 :: 31 Days With Mary—She Just Loves Being Our Mother
The Blessed Virgin is like a good mother who, not content with looking after all her children in general, watches over each one separately. —St. John Vianney As I think about my relationship with my children, I recognize how I relate to each child differently. I am grateful to know them so well. I can anticipate their needs, what will help them in certain situations, and when they just need a hug or time to talk. A mother has a…
Day 5 :: 31 Days With Mary—On the Feast of St. Faustina
Today is the Feast of St. Faustina. She was a young nun in Poland in the 1930s. She came from a poor family, and she did not have much education, so her tasks in the convent were simple and humble. During her time in the convent, Jesus appeared and spoke to Sister Faustina. She compiled her conversations with Him in notebooks, which became what is known today as the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. The message is one of God’s…
Day 4 :: 31 Days With Mary—Hello, Mom
It is a bright, sunny fall day. (Do you notice how even on the sunniest day in fall the light just seems to have a warm glow to it?) I head into St. Paul to meet my spiritual director. I feel so blessed to have found this Catholic woman, who loves the Lord and who somehow “gets” me. Her office is in an old mansion that the university purchased and renovated into offices and classrooms. Since it is on campus, parking…
Day 3 :: 31 Days With Mary — First Saturday of the Month
Today is the First Saturday of October and Day 3 of my 31 Days With Mary series! I spent the day cheering on my oldest daughter at a volleyball tournament, while the rest of my family is on a fall camping trip. It is hard to split up, especially on such a beautiful fall day, but this is what this busy season asks of us. Fortunately, this is just a season, and the end is in sight. The first Saturday of…
Day 2 :: 31 Days With Mary — How Mary Became My Queen, My Mother in SQTs
Since I am writing 31 Days With Mary during the month of October, maybe I will begin by sharing how Mary became my queen and my mother. Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said of Mary, “She existed in the Divine Mind as an Eternal Thought before there were any mothers. She is the Mother of mothers, she is the world’s first love.” #1 Slow beginnings My first real encounter with Mary was through the quiet actions of my grandma, who…