Our Blessed Mother

Our Blessed Mother Chooses all of Us

After Mass today several of us were gathering to say the rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy as we normally do after Holy Eucharist.  Sean was there.  He is in his 70’s and has a wonderful Irish accent as he grew up on an small Island off the coast of Ireland.  He is also blind.  He began to share with me the lovely story of St. Patrick as his Feast Day is tomorrow.  He said there are many Saints with the name John or Francis but there is only one St. Patrick.  Some of the group had commitments so we postponed our conversation until after our prayers.  After the rosary I asked him if he wouldn’t mind saying a novena to St. Patrick.  He initially agreed but then as we spoke more he told me he had an overwhelming feeling that he could not.  He told me that he really wanted to say a novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  He said all other people pale in comparison to her.  Sean has such a deep devotion to our Lady.  He has been saying daily rosaries with Her for close to 70 years.  Standing in front of a statue of Our Lady I said of course we would love for you to pray to Our Lady for the children’s rosary.  Another friend who had prayed the rosary with us overhearing the conversation offered to say a novena to St. Elizabeth and St. Thomas Aquinas which was also wonderful.  

On my walk home I began mulling over Sean’s offer to pray a novena to our Lady.  At first I thought we might put Our Blessed Mother’s name on one Bible or bookmark as we are going to do with all the Saints.  How lucky I thought will be the family who has Mary as their spiritual guide.  As the walk progressed and I was finishing another rosary an inspiration came from above.  Mary could not possibly choose one family to lead.  How could she choose one of her children over another.  We are all her dear children. How silly I had been to have even entertained the thought.  Of course, all the Bibles will have a Saint written in them but first there will be Our Blessed Mother’s name.  She chooses all of us.  She is only waiting for us to choose her and ask her to lead us.  Thank, thank you, thank you Mother Mary for reminding me of this beautiful reality.  

May I humbly include word’s from the Saints, whom we have already asked to join our children’s rosary, about our Blessed Mother Mary:

“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”

--Saint Maximilian Kolbe

"Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary."

--St. Bonaventure

"We never give more honour to Jesus than when we honour his Mother, and we honour her simply and solely to honour him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek - Jesus, her Son."

--Saint Louis Marie de Montfort

"If you ever feel distressed during your day — call upon our Lady — just say this simple prayer: 'Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.' I must admit — this prayer has never failed me."

--Blessed Mother Teresa 

Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.

--Saint Francis de Sales

"Seek refuge in Mary because she is the city of refuge. We know that Moses set up three cities of refuge for anyone who inadvertently killed his neighbor. Now the Lord has established a refuge of mercy, Mary, even for those who deliberately commit evil. Mary provides shelter and strength for the sinner."

--Saint Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church

"The reason why Christ is unknown today is because His Mother is unknown."

--Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman

“Always stay close to this Heavenly Mother, because she is the sea to be crossed to reach the shores of Eternal Splendour.”

--Saint Padre Pio

To read more about the great many novenas we are saying and how you can receive a hand made bookmark by the children's rosary with a Saint on it, go to the Feb 14th post(He sent them out two by two).  Each Saint has been asked individually by a nine day novena to pick a family, individual or priest associated with the children's rosary to lead on their spiritual journey.  By randomly picking the bookmarks for each person we allow the Saint to choose you.  We can send it to you free of charge.  The first bookmarks and Bibles will be given out on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 15 2012.