Praying the Rosary I – Devotion to Our Lady

As Catholics, devotion to Mary has a special place in our lives. In Mary we find the perfect model for the Christian life. At the Annunciation, Mary gave her courageous yes to God despite the fact that it could have meant facing serious questions from others. Mary was there at the Passion of Jesus, gazing upon him as he struggled under the Cross and there before him in his final agony on Calvary. Shortly after we find her at the heart of the disciples in the upper room at Pentecost, praying constantly and waiting.

Mary didn’t have all the answers. Like us she was often unsure what to think. She questioned Gabriel at the Annunciation, ‘how can this be?’ We are told that she pondered all these events of her life with Jesus in her heart, wondering what they could mean. But through God’s grace , Mary never stopped trusting in his loving mercy. Whatever suffering or joy life brought, Mary knew that God would be faithful in his love. Today Mary reminds us of this. As our Mother she constantly invites us follow Jesus, repeating her words at the wedding feast of Cana – ‘do whatever he tells you’.

Devotion to Mary means following her example of a generous openness to God and others, and a faithful trust in his unfailing love. This Lent let us turn to her in prayer and ask her to guide us ever closer to the loving heart of Jesus. ‘Mary, Mother of the “yes”, you listened to Jesus, and know the tone of his voice and the beating of his heart. Morning star, speak to us of Him, and tell about your journey of following him on the path of faith’ (Prayer of Pope Benedict XVI).