Bishop Solis: Marian month reflection and message for Mother's Day
Every year, our Church celebrates the month of May in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of God. Our Christian tradition has a strong and deep connection to our Blessed Mother and promotes a special devotion to her. Her unique role in our salvation history as the mother of our Savior makes her very special in the eyes of God and for all Christian believers. As a matter of fact, Pope Francis called the faithful during first the Covid pandemic and now the war in Ukraine to pray and invoke her intercession for healing and peace in the world.
This month is a great occasion to pray and to reflect on the life of our Blessed Mother. Her exemplary Christian virtues help inspire us in our faith and our relationship with God. Her complete openness to and cooperation with God’s plan was instrumental in the incarnation of Jesus, the Son of God – the Word made flesh that dwelt among us, and the fulfilment of God’s promise of salvation. Her total obedience, dedication and service to God manifested in humility, simplicity, holiness and gratitude are examples we can emulate and follow.
During the Marian month of May, we have devotional practices and events to strengthen and renew our faith in God, especially during challenging times. Pray the holy rosary daily. Let us unite our hearts and pray to our Blessed Mother to lead us to closer union with God.
On May 1 this year, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops posted on their Facebook page, “As we begin this month of May dedicated to our Blessed Mother, we implore her intercession and ask for the grace to entrust ourselves fully to her Son and His plan for our lives. Mary, Mother of our Savior, pray for us!”
Pope Francis also tweeted an appeal for people “to pray together the rosary for peace every day during May.” He followed with another tweet the next day, saying, “In this month dedicated to the Virgin Mary, let us learn from her that prayer is the best weapon of Christian life; without persistent prayer, no victory over evil is possible.”
As we honor Mary, the Mother of God, let us also remember with gratitude and affection all our earthly mothers, living and deceased, during this Mother’s Day weekend. God has blessed us with our mothers for bringing us into the world, who care, protect, teach, love us, and even transmitted to us their faith in God. Let us give them thanks and pray:
Almighty God and Father, we thank you for the gift of your Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. We are likewise grateful to you for giving each one of us our earthly mother, grandmothers and all who play a maternal role in our lives, providing us the affection, tenderness, guidance and care we need. Grateful for their sacrifices and selfless love, we ask that you bless them with good health, strength, joy and peace. We entrust them into your loving and caring hands, and ask that you protect them from every danger, evil and harm. For all our mothers who have died, grant them eternal rest and peace. Amen
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